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Accidents · NTSB MIA86LA084 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Schweizer G-164B accident near Homestead, Florida, February 24, 1986

On February 24, 1986 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N3629J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Homestead, Florida. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
February 24, 1986 · about 10:15 pm local time · cases in 1986
Place
Homestead, Florida · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Schweizer G-164B
Registration
N3629J · registry record · serial 747B
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 PLT STATED THAT SHE HAD COMPLETED ONE SPRAY PASS WITH ONE TON OF FERTILIZER ABOARD & PULLED UP IN A TURN TO ABOUT 200 FT. AT THAT TIME THE ACFT 'HIT A POCKET OF DEAD AIR.' THE ACFT NOSED DOWN AND ALTHOUGH THE PLT DUMPED THE CHEMICAL LOAD, SHE COULD NOT RECOVER IN TIME TO AVOID THE CRASH.

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, private
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
  • Flight time: 500 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
  • Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: P&W R-1340 AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
  • Fire on the ground

The flight

  • Departed from: 3X5 at 8:30 pm
  • Destination: EX5
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 290° at 13 knots, gusting 19
  • Visibility: 7 statute miles
  • Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
  • Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
  • Observation at 9:50 pm from MIA, 14 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/MIA86LA084.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.