Schweizer G-164 accident near Mount Bellvue, Texas, April 9, 1994
On April 9, 1994 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164, registered N3628T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mount Bellvue, Texas (Nelson 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS WERE THE SOFT RUNWAY AND GUSTY WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 1994 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Bellvue, Texas · Nelson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G-164
- Registration
- N3628T · registry record · serial 737B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SOUTHERLY TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DRIFT RIGHT AND ENTERED A SOFT WET AREA. AS THE AIRCRAFT TRAVERSED THE SOFT AREA IT NOSED OVER TO THE INVERTED POSITION. OFFICIAL WIND 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS FROM 225 DEGREES AT 14 KNOTS GUSTING TO 21. THE PILOT CITED 'STRONG GUSTS' AND SOFT TERRAIN AS THE REASON FOR HIS LOSS OF CONTROL.
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: 17,761 hours in all; 10,256 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,826 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1993; 243 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,700 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from HOU, 20 miles away
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 N3628T 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.