Grumman G-164A accident near Welsh, Louisiana, April 14, 1992
On April 14, 1992 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N9546, was substantially damaged in an accident near Welsh, 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
PARTIAL POWER LOSS DUE TO THE CRACKED ENGINE CYLINDER. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 1992 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Welsh, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N9546 · no longer on the register · serial 1208
- 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 AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF FROM THE AGRICULTURAL WORK STRIP. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DUMP THE 1,800 POUNDS OF FERTILIZER AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE AIRPLANE LANDED IN A SOFT, WET FIELD. DURING THE FORCED LANDING ROLL, IT COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK AND CONTINUED FORWARD AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A CRACKED NUMBER NINE CYLINDER AT A SPARK PLUG HOLE. THE SPARK PLUG COULD BE LIFTED FROM THE HOLE BY HAND.
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: 8,432 hours in all; 8,100 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 180 in the last 30 days; 8,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Riceland Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 68°F (20°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.