NTSB Factual Report

On May 15, 2001, at 1430 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, agricultural airplane, N6778K, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a rice field while maneuvering near Rosharon, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by Garrett Flying Service, Inc., of Danbury, Texas, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and a flight plan was not filed. At 1315, on the day of the accident, the airplane departed the operator's airstrip at Danbury, Texas, and flew to the rice field near Rosharon, Texas. During the aerial application flights, the airplane landed and departed a dirt airstrip at the rice field.

On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported the wind was from 180 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 18 knots with moderate turbulence and dust devils in the area. The flight departed the dirt airstrip to the east, turned downwind and flew about 500 yards, when the airplane started loosing "airspeed and altitude." The pilot applied full power and started dumping the load of dry fertilizer; however, the "airplane would not recover." The airplane impacted the wet rice field, the main landing gear sunk into the mud, and the airplane flipped to the inverted position before coming to rest. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, and top wings were damaged. The fuselage was twisted. Both main landing gear collapsed, and the right main landing gear separated from the airframe.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. Factors were the weather conditions and the muddy terrain.