Schweizer G-164A accident near Walla Walla, Washington, March 30, 1993
On March 30, 1993 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164A, registered N8734H, was destroyed in an accident near Walla Walla, Washington. 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
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1993 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Walla Walla, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G-164A
- Registration
- N8734H · no longer on the register · serial 1503
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT STATED THAT HE HAD JUST COMPLETED HIS SECOND SPRAY PASS OF THE MORNING WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT WARNING. HE ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AFTER TOUCHDOWN IN THE SOFT FIELD. AFTER EXITING FROM THE COCKPIT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT A SMALL FIRE ON THE ENGINE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. AN FAA INSPECTOR INSPECTED THE WRECKAGE AND FOUND NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES. HE STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THE PILOT HAD ENCOUNTERED CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.
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: 2,360 hours in all; 912 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 92 in the last 30 days; 2,306 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,423 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1993; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,020 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Blue Mountain Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from ALW, 5 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.
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.