Schweizer G-164B accident near Austwell, Texas, August 2, 1989
On August 2, 1989 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N7501Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Austwell, Texas. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING AREA (TERRAIN). HIGH VEGETATION AND ROUGH TERRAIN WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1989 · about 7:15 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Austwell, Texas · 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
- N7501Q · registry record · serial 813-B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT FERRIED THE ACFT TO A LOCATION FOR 'COTTON WORK' & LANDED ON A ROAD THAT HE HAD USED BEFORE. THE CUSTOMER WANTED HIM TO USE ANOTHER ROAD THAT THE PILOT WAS FAMILIAR WITH, SO HE FLEW THE ACFT TO THAT LOCATION. DRG THE LANDING, THE SPRAY BOOM UNDER THE LEFT WING 'CAUGHT' TALL GRASS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE ACFT THEN VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD & WENT INTO A FIELD WHERE IT CAME TO REST ON ITS NOSE. THERE WAS NO CHEMICAL LOAD ABOARD THE ACFT.
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: 34,500 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 700 in the last 90 days; 200 in the last 30 days; 34,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 107 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 1, 1988; 107 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 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
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N7501Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7501Q on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schweizer 1,187 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P&W R-1340 1,229 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,063 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,976 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N7501Q 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW89DRG04.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.