Schweizer G-164D accident near Welsh, Louisiana, May 14, 1992
On May 14, 1992 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164D, registered N8331K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Welsh, Louisiana (Private 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 ENGINE FAILURE AT LIFTOFF DUE TO THE FAILURE OF MULTIPLE TURBINE BLADES AND THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1992 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Welsh, Louisiana · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G-164D
- Registration
- N8331K · no longer on the register · serial 16D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE PILOT HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND FLAMES BRIEFLY ENGULFED THE COCKPIT. AS THE FLAMES CLEARED THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE AIRPLANE SETTLED BACK ONTO THE STRIP. THE PILOT APPLIED MAXIMUM BRAKING; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE DEVELOPED A LEFT DRIFT THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A THREE FOOT DEEP DITCH. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT SEVERAL TURBINE BLADES HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM BOTH THE GAS PRODUCER AND POWER TURBINE WHEELS. THE MANUFACTURER REPORTED THAT THE BLADES WERE RELEASED AS A RESULT OF INTERFERENCE, BUT DID NOT REPORT THE REASON FOR THE INTERFERENCE.
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: 12,944 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 12,814 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,569 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 1992; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-15AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lyon Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 79°F (26°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 N8331K 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.