Schweizer G-164A accident near Oak Grove, Louisiana, May 23, 1989
On May 23, 1989 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164A, registered N8699H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oak Grove, Louisiana (Private Strip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO PERFORM ADEQUATE PRELIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BEFORE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF BY FAILING TO ASSURE THE RUNWAY CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1989 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oak Grove, Louisiana · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G-164A
- Registration
- N8699H · no longer on the register · serial 1476
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE HAD LANDED ON THE AIRSTRIP 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND HAD FOUND NOTHING ABNORMAL ABOUT THE RUNWAY CONDITION. AFTER LOADING 1,300 POUNDS OF CHEMICALS, HE STARTED A TAKEOFF FROM THE WEST END. APPROXIMATELY 400FEET LATER, THE MAIN GEAR WHEELS BOGGED IN THE MUD, THE NOSE VEERED SLIGHTLY LEFT, THE AIRPLANE TIPPED UP ON ITS NOSE AND FLIPPED FORWARD TO THE INVERTED POSITION.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,375 hours in all; 1,353 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 32 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,834 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 1989; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,000 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 pm from MLU, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.