- Date
- August 23, 2008, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Nielsville, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N773DSchweizer G-164B
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Minneapolis, MN
- FAA report
- 20080823846379A
- Case key
- 68944
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 of the airplane during the crosswind landing. Factors associated with the accident were the crosswind and the rough terrain.
Findings · 5
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.
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 stated he was landing to the north with winds from 290 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. He stated that after touching down he applied the right brake which was "poor" and the airplane turned to the left. The airplane traveled into a wheat field where it contacted a furrow. The pilot stated the airplane bounced up and weathervaned even more. The airplane settled to the ground and the right main landing gear collapsed when it dug into the ground.
Factual narrative
On August 23, 2008, at 0900 central daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N773D, operated by Sky Tractor Supply, experienced a separation of the right main landing gear following a loss of control while landing at a private airstrip in Nielsville, North Dakota. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right lower wing and fuselage. The aerial application flight was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a private airstrip in Hillsboro, North Dakota, at 0830. The pilot stated he was landing to the north with winds from 290 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. He stated that after touching down he applied the right brake which was "poor" and the airplane turned to the left. The airplane traveled into a wheat field where it contacted a furrow. The pilot stated the airplane bounced up and weathervaned even more. The airplane settled to the ground and the right main landing gear collapsed when it dug into the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N773D
- Reported as
- Schweizer G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 773B
- Engine
- Walter E-11, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Sky Tractor Supply Company
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- 5ND9 · Hillsboro, ND
- Destination
- PVT · Nielsville, MN
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
- 55
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Flight hours
- 12,800 total · 10,400 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 149 °F, dew point 118 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.