Grumman-Schweizer G-164B accident near Edison, Georgia, July 31, 2001
On July 31, 2001 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, registered N6816Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edison, Georgia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during takeoff resulting in the airplane descending, colliding with the ground, and nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2001 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Edison, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N6816Q · no longer on the register · serial 320B
- 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 pilot stated the takeoff was normal with the airplane accelerating normally and producing power. Once the main tires cleared the ground, he heard 3 short backfire sounds followed by a loss of engine rpm. He tried to make a slow right hand turn to attempt a landing on a field road. He decided not to continue straight ahead because of trees. The airplane was losing forward speed and altitude as he continued the right turn. Before he could dump the load of 135 gallons of chemical the airplane stalled. The left main landing gear struck the ground first followed by a nose over with the airplane on its back at final rest. Postcrash examination of the airplane was conducted by an FAA inspector. The inspector stated that damage to the propeller blades showed the engine was running at substantial power on contact with soil in the field.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,735 hours in all; 1,470 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 140 in the last 30 days; 2,590 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 12, 2000
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,674 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2001; 105 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Edison GA at 10:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 270, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from ABY, 35 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 N6816Q 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.