Schweizer G-164A accident near Bunkie, Louisiana, June 23, 1989
On June 23, 1989 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164A, registered N602Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bunkie, Louisiana. 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 LOSS OF THE NUMBER FIVE CYLINDER IN FLIGHT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ENGINE RPM. THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE LANDING FLARE HEIGHT DUE TO OBSCURED VISION FROM FIRE AND SMOKE AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND NOSE FIRST.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1989 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bunkie, Louisiana · 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
- N602Y · no longer on the register · serial 227
- 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 AG AIRPLANE WAS APPLYING FERTILIZER ON A FIELD WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND NOSED OVER AFTER LANDING IN A SOY BEAN FIELD. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE NUMBER FIVE CYLINDER WAS MISSING FROM THE ENGINE CASE. FROM THE TIME THE ENGINE LOST POWER, UNTIL THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, THERE WAS FIRE AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH OBSCURRED THE PILOT'S VISION.
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: 5,531 hours in all; 1,850 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 115 in the last 30 days; 4,490 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,258 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1989; 283 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.