On June 1, 2000, a Grumman-schweizer G164B (registration N48723) was involved in an aviation accident near Natchitoches, LA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop. A factor was the crosswind. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a landing roll on a grass airstrip, an aerial application aircraft ground looped, causing the main landing gear to collapse and the fuel tank to rupture, resulting in a fire that consumed the airplane.
Accident Details
The pilot of an aerial application aircraft was performing fertilizer application on local fields. Having completed 18 loads, the pilot was returning to the airstrip to collect the 19th load of fertilizer. The landing was being conducted on a grass airstrip.
Sequence of Events
During the landing roll, the pilot reported that the aircraft began to turn to the right. The aircraft then ground looped before the pilot could correct the directional control. As a result of the ground loop, the main landing gear collapsed. This led to the fuel tank rupturing, and a fire erupted. The fire ultimately consumed the entire airplane.
Environmental Conditions
The pilot stated that the airstrip was oriented north-south. A crosswind was blowing from the east at a speed of 10 to 12 miles per hour at the time of the accident.