Schweizer G-164A accident near Biscoe, Arkansas, March 14, 1984
On March 14, 1984 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164A, registered N8945H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Biscoe, Arkansas (Betzner 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 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1984 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Biscoe, Arkansas · Betzner · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G-164A
- Registration
- N8945H · no longer on the register · serial 1581
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER SPRAYING OPERATIONS ACFT PROPELLER WOULD BE PRESSURE SPRAYED. WATER ENTERED PROPELLER PITCH CHANGE BEARINGS WHICH CORRODED BEARINGS. EVENTUALLY PITCH MOVEMENT WAS HINDERED BY RUST CORROSION. THE BLADE COUNTERWEIGHT BOLT BROKE ALLOWING THE PROPELLER BLADE PITCH TO INCREASE. ENGINE RPM DECREASED BELOW OPERATING RANGE. THE PLT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINEAND LANDED THE ACFT IN A FIELD. THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,700 hours in all; 7,500 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 8,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1983; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: De Valls Bluff AR at 4:30 pm
- Destination: Biscoe AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from LIT
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.