# NTSB CHI95LA152: Schweizer G-164B, N48532, Hatton, ND, May 18, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 1995, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Hatton, ND - Coordinates: 47.629646, -97.449989 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6296&lon=-97.4500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9887 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9887/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA152 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, and the excessive airspeed. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, and the soft, wet condition of the sod runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE PRIVATE SOD AIRSTRIP TO PICK UP ANOTHER LOAD OF CHEMICALS TO SPRAY A FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT ON THE INITIAL PART OF THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE'S TAIL BEGAN TO RISE. IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOWER THE TAIL, THE PILOT APPLIED ELEVATOR PRESSURE. AS HE APPLIED PRESSURE, THE TAIL WHEEL LOCKED UP AND HE LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AROUND AN EXTREMELY WET AREA ON THE RUNWAY. UPON REACHING THIS WET AREA, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO THE SOFT, WET CONDITION OF THE SOD RUNWAY, APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET OF THE RUNWAY WAS UNUSABLE. HE ALSO STATED THAT HIS APPROACH AIRSPEED TO LAND WAS A LITTLE TOO FAST. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 1995, at 1845 central daylight time, a Schweizer G- 164B, N48532, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over after landing on a private sod airstrip in Hatton, North Dakota. The commercial certificated pilot reported no injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 137 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without flight plan. The pilot stated he took off with a small load of chemicals to spray a field. When finished, he returned to the airport to pick up another load of chemicals. The airplane touched down and while on the initial landing roll, the pilot stated, the airplane's tail started to rise as the airplane rolled on the soft sod. In an attempt to lower the tail, the pilot applied elevator pressure. As he did this, the tail wheel locked up and the pilot lost the ability to steer around an extremely wet area on the runway. Upon reaching this wet area, the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that due to the soft, wet condition of the sod runway, approximately 1000 feet of the runway was unusable. He also stated his "...main problem [was] my approach to landing was a little to fast." ## Aircraft - Registration: N48532 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER G-164B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 62B - Airframe hours: 3478 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Arvid H. Michaelis - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 1995, 27 hours before - Departed: NONE - Airport: NONE, Hatton, runway 36, 2,500 × 500 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 12,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GFK, 30 nm away ## 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 19950518048029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950518048029A), May 18, 1995: Scwzer G164B, Mayville, ND, No damage. (-23) The 2500' sod runway was only 50 percent useable due to mud holes on each end. Operator was trying to use about 1200' in the center of runway. Aircraft… 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.