Schweizer G-164B accident near Donaldsonville, Louisiana, July 29, 1989
On July 29, 1989 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N8172K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Donaldsonville, 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1989 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Donaldsonville, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N8172K · registry record · serial 600B
- 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 HAD BEEN WORKING FOR 15 MINUTES WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT DUMPED THE LOAD, AND FIVE SECONDS LATER, THE ENGINE POWER RETURNED. THE PILOT CLIMBED THE AIRPLANE AND TURNED TOWARD THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. AT 300 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN, AND THE PILOT TURNED BACK TOWARD THE FIELD HE HAD BEEN WORKING. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN HIGH SOYBEANS, AND ROLLED 85 FEET BEFORE THE PROPELLER DUG IN. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER TO THE INVERTED POSITION. NO REASON COULD BE FOUND FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,543 hours in all; 5,169 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 6,519 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,539 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1989; 200 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 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 82°F (28°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.
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.