Schweizer G-164B accident near Bay City, Texas, June 20, 1992
On June 20, 1992 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N8157K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bay City, Texas (Fehmel Airstrip 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
THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO INITIATE A CLIMB DUE TO EXCEEDING THE TAKEOFF CAPABILITY OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH GRASS ON THE AIRSTRIP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1992 · about 2:45 pm local time · cases in 1992
- Place
- Bay City, Texas · Fehmel Airstrip · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N8157K · registry record · serial 591B
- 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 STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPART THE AIRSTRIP WITH A LOAD OF FERTILIZER THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AND THEN SETTLED BACK DOWN TO THE GROUND WHEN THE WHEELS BECAME ENTANGLED IN TALL GRASS NEAR THE END OF THE STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED A FENCE AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND FLIPPED OVER. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,322 hours in all; 4,500 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 27, 1992; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fehmel Planes, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,800 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°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 N8157K 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
- N8157K on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schweizer 1,187 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN1 64 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Dhs Laredo Heliport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,062 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,976 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N8157K 1 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/FTW92DRA03.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.