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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 13, 2007 · Schweizer G-164B · N3633Q

Colusa, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 13, 2007
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Colusa, CA
Aircraft
Schweizer G-164B
Tail Number
N3633Q
Operator
Martin S Dusters
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX07LA168

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.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires.

Full 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSchweizer G-164B
Tail NumberN3633Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMartin S Dusters
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney Canada · PT6A-27 · Turboprop · 680
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point37 C
Altimeter29.96 inHg
Observation Time22:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data