# NTSB WPR10CA444: Schweizer 164B, N7502Y, Murtaugh, ID, September 2, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 2, 2010, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Murtaugh, ID
- Coordinates: 42.496944, -114.233886
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4969&lon=-114.2339&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77174
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA444
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77174/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77174
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA444

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the wind and failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.

## 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)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/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)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during landing he noticed the wind intensity was increasing at the private airstrip. He departed again for his fifth aerial application flight of the day. While on the takeoff, as the tail was lifting off the ground, a gust of wind struck the airplane and it veered towards the right. The airplane exited the runway surface and struck a power pole, substantially damaging the wings, fuselage and empennage. The nearest weather reporting station, located about 13 miles from the accident airstrip, reported wind at 13 knots gusting to 19 knots. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he noticed the wind was picking up at the private airstrip when he landed from his fourth load of spray for the aerial application flight. During the takeoff roll of the pilot’s fifth load, as the tail was coming off the ground, a gust of wind struck the airplane and it veered towards the right. The airplane exited the runway environment and struck a power pole, substantially damaging the wings, fuselage and empennage. The nearest weather reporting station located about 13 miles to the west of the accident airstrip reported wind from 070 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 19 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7502Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7502Y), registered now, S/N 821B, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP 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: 821B
- Airframe hours: 9036
- Engines: Garrett TPE331-1-151A 665 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Larry Wright
- Registered owner: Ken Spray LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 2010, 388 hours before
- Departed: N/A, Murtaugh, ID
- Destination: N/A, Murtaugh, ID
- Airport: N/A, Murtaugh Strip, runway 27, 2,800 × 70 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 18,063 total, 2,837 in this make and model, 17,912 as pilot in command, 367 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observed at: TWF, 13 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 20100902044849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100902044849A), Sep 2, 2010: Schweizer A G-164B, Murtaugh Lake, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting a dowwind takeoff when a gust of wind pushed the aircraft into a power line pole causing subtantial damage to the aircraft.

## Other investigations on N7502Y (1)

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 SEA04LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA125), Jul 7, 2004: Schweizer G-164B (N7502Y), Wendell, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: A cracked cylinder head which resulted in a loss of engine power while maneuvering. High vegetation was a factor.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77174. 542 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 542 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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