Schweizer G-164A accident near Lake Arthur, Louisiana, July 19, 1989
On July 19, 1989 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164A, registered N48377, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Arthur, Louisiana (Farm 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE HIGH WEEDS (VEGETATION) & LEVEE (DIRT BANK) WERE CONSIDERED TO BE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1989 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Arthur, Louisiana · Farm 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
- N48377 · registry record · serial 1541
- 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 STARTED THE TAKEOFF ROLL WITH 36 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE, AND WHEN HE WAS 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE 1,600 FOOT GRASS STRIP, HE LOOKED DOWN AND FOUND HE WAS GETTING ONLY 28 INCHES. HE STARTED TO DUMP HIS LOAD, AND AS HE GOT TO THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP, HE VEERED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT. THE RIGHT WING WENT INTO HIGH WEEDS, AND THE LEFT GEAR IMPACTED A SMALL LEVEE. THE AIRPLANE ENDED UP INVERTED. NO REASON COULD BE FOUND FOR THE LOSS OF POWER.
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: 3,201 hours in all; 2,800 in this make and model; 410 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 31,010 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,601 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 1989; 421 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N48377 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.