# NTSB CEN25LA254: Schweizer G-164B, N7501A, Russellville, IN, July 15, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 15, 2025, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Russellville, IN · cornfield - Coordinates: 39.855044, -86.959176 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8550&lon=-86.9592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 9, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200561 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA254 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200561/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200561 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA254 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to establish and maintain the airstrip centerline during takeoff, which resulted in the airplane’s right wingtips contacting the corn that bordered the airstrip. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was departing from a 100-ft-wide grass airstrip in the tailwheel-equipped agricultural biplane. The pilot reported that during the takeoff run, as the tail of the airplane came up, the right wingtips contacted the corn that bordered the airstrip. The airplane subsequently veered further into the corn and spun around. The airplane’s wings, fuselage, and empennage were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7501A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7501A), registered now, S/N 803B, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer Aircraft Corp G-164B - Registry model: [Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 8059055) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 803B - Year built: 1988 - Airframe hours: 12919.4 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: BI-State Air, Inc - Registered owner: BI-State Air, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 2024, 15 hours before - Departed: II68, Russellville, IN - Airport: II68, Durham Airport, runway 26, 2,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2025; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 12,503 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 12,503 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CFJ, 7 nm away - METAR: METAR KCFJ 152055Z AUTO 14004KT 10SM SCT028 SCT065 SCT070 27/22 A3000 RMK AO2 P0009 60009 T02670223= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250715008799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250715008799A), Jul 15, 2025: Schweizer Aircraft Corp G-164B, Russellville, IN, Substantial damage. On July 15, 2025, at approximately 17:00 local time, at the Durham Airport (II68) in Russellville, Indiana; a Schweizer G-164B single engine aircraft’s right… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200561. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19607203&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20NTSB_Form_6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airplane documentation (excerpts) (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 911 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19607665&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Airplane%20Documentation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19608536&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.