Grumman G-164A accident near Bastrop, Louisiana, June 10, 1990
On June 10, 1990 at about 11:10 am local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N6572, was destroyed in an accident near Bastrop, Louisiana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER ENGINE PROCEDURES DURING GROUND OPERATIONS AND PRIOR TO TAKEOFF WHICH RESULTED IN FOULED SPARK PLUGS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 1990 · about 11:10 am local time
- Place
- Bastrop, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N6572 · no longer on the register · serial 712
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AERIAL APPLICATION PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS IN A SLOW TURN TO THE LEFT LOOKING FOR THE FLAGMAN WHEN THE AIRPLANE 'BEGAN TO FALL.' HE ROLLED OUT OF THE TURN BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT. FULL POWER WAS ADDED AND THE PILOT UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO DUMP THE LOAD OF CHEMICAL. THE FORCED LANDING IN SOFT MUDDY TERRAIN RESULTED IN A NOSEOVER. THE OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE REPORTED THAT THE PILOT WAS ON THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES WITH THE ENGINE IDLING, AND THAT DURING TAKEOFF THE ENGINE DID NOT DEVELOP FULL POWER. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAD CAUTIONED THE PILOT ABOUT CLEARING THE ENGINE BEFORE TAKEOFF. THE CHEMICAL DUMP LEVER WAS BLOCKED BY THE IMPROPERLY POSITIONED PRESSURE VALVE LEVER.
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: 1,200 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 200 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1990; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 11:10 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.