# NTSB LAX07LA168: Schweizer G-164B, N3633Q, Colusa, CA, May 13, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2007, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Colusa, CA - Coordinates: 39.166667, -121.833335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1667&lon=-121.8333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65782 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07LA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65782/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA168 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis The operator briefed the pilot on the morning of the accident about the field that was scheduled for an application of rice seed. The operator's policy was to fly above the wires. Approximately midday, the operator was assigned the field to drop seed, and assigned the pilot to do the drop. An agricultural commercial pilot witness observed the airplane making the application to the field under the wires. On the second pass, the airplane's vertical stabilizer and rudder struck the wires. The rudder then separated from the airplane. The airplane pitched nose up, stalled, spun approximately three times, and impacted terrain. The airplane was destroyed by post-impact fire. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2007, about 1630 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N3633Q, struck wires and collided with terrain near Colusa, California. Martin's Dusters, Inc., was operating the airplane on an aerial application mission under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The commercial pilot was killed; the airplane was destroyed. The local flight departed Colusa County Airport about 1600. According to the operator, he briefed the pilot on the morning of the accident about the field that was scheduled for an application of rice seed. The operator stated that the pilot was to fly over the top of the wires; the operator's policy was to fly above the wires. Approximately midday, the operator was assigned the field to drop seed, and assigned the pilot to do the drop. An agricultural commercial pilot witness reported that he observed the airplane making the application to the field under the wires. On the second pass, the airplane's vertical stabilizer and rudder struck the wires. The rudder then separated from the airplane. The airplane pitched nose up, stalled, spun approximately three times, and impacted terrain. The airplane was destroyed by post-impact fire. The operator reported that the pilot, age 50, had accumulated approximately 6,400 total flight hours and 450 in the accident airplane make and model. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) examined the wreckage at Plain Parts, Pleasant Grove, California. The control system exhibited multiple disconnects. The fracture surfaces were angular, and several control rods were bent. The crankshaft fractured and separated between the front of the crankcase and the propeller flange. The fracture surface was angular to the longitudinal axis and exhibited a shear lip. The propeller blades had leading edge gouges and trailing edge buckling. The blade tips twisted toward the low pitch, high revolution per minute (rpm) position. One blade tip separated along a plane angular to the span; another blade partially separated along a plane angular to the span. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3633Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3633Q-2012-04-05), registration cancelled 2012-04-05, S/N 777B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer G-164B - Registry model: [Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 8059055) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 777B - Airframe hours: 8397 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Martin, Frank R - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007 - Departed: O08, COLUSA, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2006; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,400 total, 450 in this make and model, 6,400 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: MYV, 20 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 20070513011219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070513011219A), May 13, 2007: Scwzer G164B, Colusa, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) Pilot was flying agricultural flight and applying rice seed. Witnesses observed aircraft strike a high tension wire, which sheared off part of the… ## Other investigations on N3633Q (2) 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 CHI95LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA080), Feb 3, 1995: Schweizer G-164B (N3633Q), Brule, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. - [NTSB LAX90DVG01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90DVG01), Nov 16, 1989: Schweizer G-164B (N3633Q), Grimes, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE COUNTER WEIGHT BRACKET TO THE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY. 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.