Private Agstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ferriday, Louisiana 71334
Tuesady, September 17, 1996 13:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/17/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City FERRIDAY
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71334
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE AGSTRIP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 54
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1276
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 18 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 746
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:21AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8498K
NTSB Number FTW96LA388
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schweizer
Aircraft Model G-164B
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164B
Aircraft Serial Number 715B
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 28 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 672
Airframe Hours 3005
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHNNIE WOODRUFF
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 122
Aircraft Owner City MONTEREY
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 71354
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AG-CATS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1686 HAPHAZARD ROAD
Operator City FERRIDAY
Operator State LA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 71334
Operator Code A61G
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --