# Accident 20150916016189A: Schweizer Aircraft Corp G-164B, Paxton, NE, September 16, 2015 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 16, 2015, 15:26 local time - Place: Paxton, NE - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Other, Specify - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Operator: M6LG - Location: 41.0986° N, 101.3444° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0986&lon=-101.3444&mi=10 - Aircraft: N3628Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3628Z) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Schweizer G-164B (registry code 8059055, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP G-164B - Reported engine: P&W R1340 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 1 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 8,500 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA266) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150916016189A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 13:26 LOCAL TIME (2026 UTC) A COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS INVOLVED IN AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CONDUCT AERIAL SPRAYING AT A BEAN FIELD LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES SOUTH AND EAST OF PAXTON, NE. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AT THE OGALLALA SEARLE FIELD AIRPORT (KOGA) LOCATED 22 MILES WEST WERE REPORTED AS CLEAR SKIES, LIGHT EASTERLY WINDS, TEMPERATURE 30, DEWPOINT 10 DEGREES. THE PILOT, THE LONE OCCUPANT, SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE PLANE WAS DESTROYED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WAS A SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT AG-CAT G-164B. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, AT ABOUT 1326 LOCAL TIME, HE SAW A PLUME OF SMOKE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PLANNED AERIAL APPLICATION LOCATION. WHEN THE WITNESS ARRIVED TO THE ACCIDENT SCENE, THE AIRMAN HAD ALREADY EXITED THE BURNING AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN ON A NORTH RUN THROUGH A BEAN FIELD IN HILLY TERRAIN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY UNDER THREE POWERLINE WIRES. AFTER STRIKING THE THREE APPROXIMATELY 30 FOOT TALL WIRES, THE AIRCRAFT FIRST IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET BEYOND THE POWER LINES, POSSIBLY DRAGGING A WHEEL. GROUND SCARRING INDICATES BOUNCING WITH THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR DETACHED APPROXIMATELY 48 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. IT THEN CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET NORTH OF THE POWER LINES. THE ENGINE WAS DETACHED FROM THE FUSELAGE, APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE TWO LOWER WINGS LAY OVER THE FUSELAGE IN A V SHAPE AND WERE PARTIALLY BURNED. THE FUSELAGE CAME TO REST ON THE RIGHT SIDE, ALMOST UPSIDE DOWN, POINTING NORTHEAST, AND COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO GROUND IMPACT, AND ONE BLADE OF THE PROPELLER WAS SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE, RESTING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. AS OF THIS DATE THE EVIDENCE DOES NOT SHOW MECHANICAL INTERRUPTION PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE POWER-LINES. AFTER STRIKING THE POWER-LINES THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RISING TERRAIN BEYOND THE POWERLINES. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB GAA15CA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA266), Sep 16, 2015: Schweizer G 164B (N3628Z), Paxton, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate distance from a power line during low altitude flight operations, which resulted in an impact with the power line, and subsequent impact with the ground. ## Other reports on N3628Z (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19870518013969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870518013969A), May 18, 1987: Scwzer G164B (N3628Z), Beaufort, NC, No damage. The aircraft encountered wind shear on takeoff and struck the ground. Pilot failed to check weather. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.