Grumman American Avn. CORP. G 164A accident near Welsh, Louisiana, August 28, 2015
On August 28, 2015 at about 8:23 pm local time, a 1976 Grumman American Avn. CORP. G 164A, registered N8761H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Welsh, Louisiana (Welsh airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2015 · about 8:23 pm local time
- Place
- Welsh, Louisiana · Welsh · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman American Avn. CORP. G 164A A, built 1976 · all G 164As on the register
- Registration
- N8761H · registry record · serial 1516
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was practicing takeoffs and landings in a tailwheel equipped biplane. During the landing roll, the pilot stated that as the tailwheel touched down, the nose of the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with right rudder, but the airplane exited the runway surface and ground looped. During the ground loop, the airplane nosed forward and the top right side of the wing impacted the terrain. The right top wing was substantially damaged. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 525 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 9, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,457 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 4,497 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney 985 14B (piston); 320 hours total
- Operator: Gulf Coast Air
The flight
- Departed from: 6R1 Welsh LA at 8:15 pm
- Destination: 6R1 Welsh LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from 3R7, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N8761H 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.