# NTSB WPR18LA015: Schweizer G 164B, N8494K, Tracy, CA, October 24, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 24, 2017, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Tracy, CA - Coordinates: 37.816665, -121.45639 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8167&lon=-121.4564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 15, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 96241 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96241/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96241 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA015 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: 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 commercial pilot was performing a familiarization flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane hit a bump after touching down, which caused the airplane to bounce and then veer to the left. The pilot applied right brake, which was not effective. The airplane subsequently went off the left side of the runway and into a ditch, causing substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On October 24, 2017, about 1000 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer Corp G-164B airplane, N8494K, was substantially damaged during the landing roll at a private airstrip near Tracy, California. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Haley Flying Service of Tracy as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 familiarization flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The local flight departed the private airstrip about 0900. In a written statement submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that upon returning to the airport he flew around to the east end of the runway, got the [air]plane slowed down, trimmed for landing and made his approach. The pilot stated that after he had cleared the wires and made the runway, he pulled the power back to idle and glided down the runway, flared and made a smooth landing. The pilot opined that after landing he thought that he had hit a bump, which caused the airplane to bounce, followed by the airplane veering to the left. The pilot added that he tried to use right brake to bring the [air]plane back [to the right], but it felt as though the right brake was [not] effective. The airplane subsequently went off the left side of the runway and into a ditch, which resulted in a sudden engine stoppage, the separation of the right main landing gear, and damage to the lower right wing panel. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8494K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8494K), registered now, S/N 713B, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP G 164B (B) - 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: 713B - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 11561 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 17, 2017, 1 hours before - Departed: NA, Tracy, CA - Destination: NA, Tracy, CA - Airport: NA, Delta Strip, runway 26, 2,700 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2016; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 547 total, 110 in this make and model, 449 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: SCK, 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 20171024020289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171024020289A), Oct 24, 2017: Schweizer Aircraft Corp G-164B, Tracy, CA, Substantial damage. A Schweizer ag aircraft G-164B N8494K took off from haley flying service's private airport in Tracy, CA. For a training mission, pilot performed landings/take… ## Other investigations on N8494K (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 WPR10LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA125), Feb 23, 2010: Schweizer G164B (N8494K), Byron, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat. - [NTSB MKC86LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC86LA155), Jul 23, 1986: Schweizer G-164B (N8494K), Harrisburg, AR, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96241. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Field Inspection Report (item 2, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465987&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Field%20Inspection%20Report-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 298 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465988&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.