Schweizer G-164B accident near Reeves, Louisiana, April 13, 1990
On April 13, 1990 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N48455, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reeves, 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 DUE TO A FROZEN ROCKER ARM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1990 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Reeves, 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
- N48455 · registry record · serial 28B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AERIAL SEEDING FLIGHT, THE AG AIRPLANE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A RICE FIELD. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF, AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED FORWARD TO THE INVERTED POSITION. THAT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST ROCKER-ARM BEARING HAD FROZEN, LOCKING THE ROCKER-ARM, AND BREAKING OPEN THE ROCKER-BOX COVER.
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: 12,060 hours in all; 9,832 in this make and model; 260 in the last 90 days; 95 in the last 30 days; 12,060 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 13, 1989; 176 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from LCH, 30 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.
Other NTSB records under N48455 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.