# NTSB SEA96LA200: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N7501Q, Waitsburg, WA, August 22, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 22, 1996, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Waitsburg, WA
- Coordinates: 46.219356, -118.149353 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2194&lon=-118.1494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42453
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA200
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42453/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA200

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain control of the airplane after encountering a whirlwind during the landing.

## 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
  - weather condition - dust devil/whirlwind (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

While on the landing roll at a private strip, after completion of a spraying operation, the aircraft suddenly veered off of the runway, encountered soft terrain, overturned, and began burning. The pilot reported that there were whirlwinds in the area at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

On August 22, 1996, about 1145 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N7501Q, registered to and operated by Cropland Air Service Inc. as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, collided with terrain and was substantially damaged while landing at the Cropland Whisky Creek airstrip near Waitsburg, Washington.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.  The commercial pilot received minor injuries.

The pilot stated in his accident report that, while landing, the aircraft veered to the right and went off the runway.  He also stated there were whirlwinds in the area at the time.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7501Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7501Q), registered now, S/N 813B, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer 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: 813B
- Airframe hours: 2412
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Cropland Air Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 19, 1996, 10 hours before
- Airport: Cropland Whiskey Creek, runway 9, 2,000 × 30 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 3,567 total, 2,580 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KAL, 12 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 19960822023569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960822023569A), Aug 22, 1996: Scwzer G164B, Waitsburg, WA, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing on ag strip. Blamed whirlwind. Wind light 46MONTHS since a biennial review.

## Other investigations on N7501Q (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 WPR26LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA312), Aug 20, 2026: Schweizer G-164B (N7501Q), Olene, OR, destroyed, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB FTW89DRG04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89DRG04), Aug 2, 1989: Schweizer G-164B (N7501Q), Austwell, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING AREA (TERRAIN). HIGH VEGETATION AND ROUGH TERRAIN WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

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.

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