Grumman G-164-B accident near Mer Rouge, Louisiana, June 30, 1989
On June 30, 1989 at about 1:35 pm local time, a Grumman G-164-B, registered N8341K, was involved in an accident near Mer Rouge, Louisiana (Bonne Idee 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 FAILURE OF THE INDIVIDUAL STRUCK BY THE TAXIING AIRPLANE'S PROPELLER TO VISUALLY PERCEIVE AND AVOID THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1989 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Mer Rouge, Louisiana · Bonne Idee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164-B · all G-164-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8341K · registry record · serial 35C
- Damage
- Not recorded
- 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 TAXIING BETWEEN PARKED AIRPLANES AND A HANGAR, AFTER A FLIGHT, WHEN A FARMER WALKED INTO THE THE PROPELLER. THE FARMER OFTEN CAME TO THE AIRSTRIP TO SELL HIS PRODUCE TO THE AIRSTRIP WORKERS. WITNESSES SAID THE FARMER WAS WALKING ACROSS THE RAMP TOWARD HIS PICKUP, AND WHEN THEY SAW THE APPROACHING AIRPLANE, THEY YELLED A WARNING TO HIM. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS UNAWARE THERE WAS ANYONE IN FRONT OF THE AIRPLANE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,300 hours in all; 6,600 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 11,180 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1989; 300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 28 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from MLU, 23 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.