NTSB CAROL · Event
Event CEN20LA327
Registry · N8105K
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
GULFSTREAM-SCHWEIZER A/C CORP GULFSTREAM AM G-164B
Seats / Engines
1 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19790410
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AB0C6D
Registrant of record
AMERICAN AGVIATION INC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
Inadequate maintenance of panel fasteners, which led to a side panel coming loose during takeoff and the pilot having to make a subsequent forced landing to a flooded rice field when the airplane became difficult to control.
Factual narrative
On August 3, 2020, about 1400 central daylight time, a Grumman G164 airplane, N8105K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Alicia, Arkansas. The pilot suffered serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The pilot stated that soon after takeoff from a private airstrip, a side panel came loose on the right side of the airplane. Due to difficulties with controlling the airplane that included an un-commanded pitch up, the pilot elected to make a forced landing into a flooded rice field, which damaged both wings and fuselage. Examination revealed the fasteners for the airframe and side panel both had significant wear, which resulted in the panel coming loose during the flight. The leading edge of the elevator was also found to be rusted and covered with duct tape. During takeoff for an aerial spray flight, the pilot noticed a side panel come loose on the right side of the airplane. When the airplane became difficult to control, the pilot elected to make a forced landing into a flooded rice field, which damaged both wings and fuselage. Examination revealed the fasteners for the side panel and airframe had significant wear, which resulted in the panel coming loose during takeoff. Inadequate maintenance allowed the airworthiness hazard to exist during takeoff. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Fuselage-Fuselage main structure-Incorrect service/maintenance
- — Personnel issues-Task performance-Inspection-Preflight inspection-Pilot
- — Personnel issues-Task performance-Maintenance-Scheduled/routine maintenance-Maintenance personnel
- — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Water-Effect on equipment
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2020_CEN20LA327.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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Related research
What the literature says.
Academic papers and agency reports matching this event's aircraft type or causal vocabulary (maintenance). Sourced from NASA NTRS, NTSB Safety Studies, FAA CAMI, AOPA Air Safety Institute, Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons, arXiv, and the Semantic Scholar academic graph.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2026 · Journal article (IJAAA)
From Reactive to Predictive: A hybrid Trust-Mediated Adoption Framework for Data-Driven Maintenance in Distributed-Authority Aviation Environments
Modern aviation maintenance operates within increasingly data-intensive technological environments, yet the operational integration of predictive maintenance into routine decision-making remains incon…
- Semantic Scholar 2025 · Article (Applied Sciences)
Decision-Making Framework for Aviation Safety in Predictive Maintenance Strategies
The implementation of predictive maintenance (PM) in aviation presents unique challenges due to strict safety requirements, complex operational environments, and regulatory constraints.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2024 · Journal article (JAAER)
Low-Resource Automatic Speech Recognition Domain Adaptation – A Case-Study in Aviation Maintenance
With timeliness and efficiency being critical in the aviation maintenance industry, the need has been growing for smart technological solutions that optimize and streamline the different underlying ta…
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2024 · Journal article (JAAER)
A New Trajectory in UAV Safety: Leveraging Reinforcement Learning for Distance Maintenance Under Wind Variations
In the field of aviation, safety is a critical cornerstone, and the operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems is deeply connected with this principle.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2024 · Journal article (IJAAA)
Just Culture in Aviation: A Metaphorical Study on Aircraft Maintenance Students
Just Culture, a sub-dimension of safety culture, has been a prominent and debated topic in aviation safety in recent years.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2024 · Journal article (IJAAA)
Performance PRISM: A Comprehensive Framework For Performance Measurement In Aircraft Maintenance
Aircraft maintenance is governed by rigorous safety requirements and high operational complexity, demanding robust performance measurement frameworks to ensure optimal maintenance practices.
Browse the full corpus — academia portal ↗