CEN23LA375

NTSB accident investigation · Schweizer G-164B · Rice, MN · August 21, 2023

Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal report
Date
August 21, 2023, 14:56 local (19:56 UTC)
Place
Rice, MN
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N943QCSchweizer G-164B
Defining event
Landing: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Investigation class
Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20230821009969A
Case key
192918

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a left crosswind.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotSchweizer G-164B: 7 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedSchweizer G-164B: 6 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Wind: tailwindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationSchweizer G-164B: 1 caseAll aircraft: 594 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that he performed a straight in landing to a private airstrip. He anticipated a crosswind from the east, so he made the approach with additional airspeed to have more controllability in the crosswind. He stated that he landed about two thirds of the way down the 2,574 ft runway, reduced power, and reduced the propeller pitch to low. The tailwheel settled to the ground at a location on the runway where there was a break in the adjacent tree line. The pilot reported that the crosswind intensified at this point, and the airplane yawed to the left. The left main landing gear exited the paved portion of the runway. The pilot attempted to correct with rudder and brakes; however, the airplane continued off the runway and into a plowed field. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted in the field. The vertical stabilizer was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, wind at an airport 12 nm northwest of the accident site was 090°at 8 knots. The pilot was landing to the south.

Aircraft

Registration
N943QC
Reported as
Schweizer G-164B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
711B
Built
1983
Engine
Pratt and Whitney R1340, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Departed
Fort Ripley, MN
Destination
Same as departure
Airport
NA · Oleen AG Air, runway 18, 2,574 × 20 ft, gravel
Equipment
Unknown

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
64
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 6, 2022
Seat
Front
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
8,687 total · 7,500 in this make and model · 8,617 as pilot in command · 155 in the last 90 days · 150 in the last 30 days · 15 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
90° at 8 knots
Visibility
9 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
4,500 ft overcast
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
30.17 inHg
Observed at
KLXL, 12 nm away
METAR
KLXL 211955Z AUTO 11010KT 073V133 10SM OVC045 25/18 A3017

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.1 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N943QC · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.