Grumman-Schweizer G-164A accident near Garwood, Texas, August 13, 1993
On August 13, 1993 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, registered N7993, was substantially damaged in an accident near Garwood, Texas. 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 PARTIAL POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ONTO WHICH A FORCED LANDING COULD BE EXECUTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1993 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Garwood, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164A
- Registration
- N7993 · no longer on the register · serial 854
- 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 ENGINE BEGAN BACKFIRING AND RUNNING ROUGH SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS REMEDIAL ACTIONS DID NOT ALLEVIATE THE POWER LOSS AND HE WAS UNABLE TO SUSTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. HE ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING IN A RICE FIELD WHICH WAS THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED AS THE OPERATOR DISPOSED OF THE ENGINE.
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: 2,960 hours in all; 952 in this make and model; 483 in the last 90 days; 170 in the last 30 days; 2,618 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,900 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 21, 1993; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 4:15 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.
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.