Schweizer G-164B N8498K

Summary

On 17 September 1996 at about 18:00 local time, a Schweizer G-164B registered N8498K, operated by Ag-Cats, Inc., was involved in an accident near Ferriday, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 1996 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ferriday, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Private Agstrip (NONE)

Coordinates

31.6292, -91.5491

Aircraft

Schweizer G-164B

Registration

N8498K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Ag-Cats, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA388

Nobody was injured.

The partial loss of engine power due to a cracked cylinder head. Factors were the oil leak which restricted the pilot's visual lookout and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the airplane's takeoff climb, the engine lost power, and the windshield became coated with oil. The pilot 'immediately began a shallow right turn attempting to return to the airstrip.' During the descent, the airplane's spray boom caught the tall weeds 'causing a loss of airspeed.' The airplane impacted the ground short of the runway threshold and came to rest on its nose. The engine separated from the airframe, all four wings were damaged, and the landing gear separated from the fuselage. The salvage yard owner who performed a partial engine examination and tear down reported finding metal throughout the engine and one cylinder head cracked.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.