# NTSB WPR13LA223: Schweizer G-164B, N8214S, Biggs, CA, May 9, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 9, 2013, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Biggs, CA - Coordinates: 39.422779, -121.76361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4228&lon=-121.7636&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86854 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86854/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86854 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA223 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the runway environment during taxi, which resulted in an on-ground collision. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320/sequence.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while in the traffic pattern for landing, he was told by ground operations personnel that maintenance was being performed on the runway. The pilot scanned the area and saw trucks parked on the south end of the airstrip property but nothing on the runway. The pilot continued the landing, and taxied the airplane down the runway after landing. Although the pilot was performing s-turns for visibility purposes, he did not see service equipment on the runway, and the airplane collided with it and the operator of that equipment. The operator, who was fatally injured, was pushing a blower down the center of the runway and was wearing hearing protection at the time of the collision. It is likely that, due to the hearing protection and the sound of the blower, the operator did not hear the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed minor damage to both the inlet scoop and the lower right wing lower surface. ## Factual narrative On May 9, 2013 about 1630 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer, G-164B, bi-wing, tail-wheel airplane, N8214S, collided with runway service equipment during the landing roll at the William's Ag Services airstrip, Biggs, California. The pilot was not injured; the operator of the service equipment was fatally injured. The airplane, which sustained minor damage, was registered to Clarence E. Williams, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a post-maintenance repositioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Yuba County Airport, Marysville, California about 1615. The pilot reported in a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge that he entered the traffic pattern on an angled downwind approach, then descended down to 500 feet above ground level. He announced his intentions to land and was told by Williams Ag Services operations that maintenance was being performed on the south end of the runway. The pilot scanned the area and saw trucks parked on the south end of the airstrip property. He further stated he observed nothing on the runway. The pilot landed mid-field on runway 18 and started performing S-turns due to restricted front view of the tailwheel airplane while taxiing. Soon thereafter, he felt the collision, immediately applied the brakes and came to a stop on the runway. The flight was uneventful, up until the collision. The operator of the service equipment was part of a maintenance crew repairing the runway. No other personnel were in the area at the time of the accident. The operator was pushing an 8 horsepower blower down the center of the runway and was wearing hearing protection. An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed minor damage to both the inlet scoop and the lower right wing lower surface. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8214S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8214S), registered now, S/N 787B, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP 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: 787B - Airframe hours: 5136 - Engines: P&W PT-6/R1340 600 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Williams Ag Service, doing business as Agricultural Part 137 - Registered owner: Williams Clarence E - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 9, 2013, 0 hours before - Departed: MYV, MARYSVILLE, CA - Destination: Priv, Biggs, CA - Airport: Priv, Williams Ag Service, runway 18, 2,600 × 35 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2011; seat: single; flight hours: 6,500 total, 900 in this make and model, 6,450 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KOVE, 9 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 20130509007089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130509007089A), May 9, 2013: Schweizer Aircraft Corp G-164B, Biggs, CA, Minor damage, 1 fatal. Ag cat G-164-B on roll out on a private (prepared surface) airstrip at the williams agriculture headquarters located 1614 afton road Biggs, CA. While taxing to… ## Other investigations on N8214S (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 SEA94LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA117), May 12, 1994: Schweizer G-164B (N8214S), Yuba City, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH AFTER TAKEOFF. THE OVER-WEIGHT LOADING OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS A FACTOR. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 13, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86854. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 924 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407824&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - NAAA Fly Safe Message (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407509&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NAAA%20Fly%20Safe%20Message-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-Airplane Photo (item 3, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407514&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-Airplane%20Photo-Master.PDF - Photo 2-Aerial Photo (item 4, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407710&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-Aerial%20Photo-Master.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. --- 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.