Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

June 21, 2011 · Schweizer Aircraft G-164B · N3627G

Marysville, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 21, 2011
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Marysville, CA
Aircraft
Schweizer Aircraft G-164B
Tail Number
N3627G
Operator
Sutter Butte Dusters
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR11LA273

During the takeoff roll of the aerial application flight, the right main landing gear separated from the airplane's fuselage. The pilot continued the takeoff from the dirt airstrip, and elected to land at a local airport. During the landing roll, the airplane departed the runway sustaining substantial damage to the lower left wing. Examination of the right main landing gear spring leg revealed that the outboard segment had separated from the airplane at its root, adjacent to the airframe support structure. The fracture surfaces indicated a fatigue failure emanating from an area of corrosion on the lower surface of the spring.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Main landing gear-Fatigue/wear/corrosion - C

Full Narrative

On June 21, 2011, about 1035 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer Airplane Corp. G-164B, N3627G, departed the runway during landing at Yuba County Airport, Marysville, California. Sutter Butte Dusters, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The aerial application flight departed from a dirt strip near Gridley, California, about 0930. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, just prior to rotation, the right main landing gear separated from the fuselage. He continued the takeoff and elected to land at Yuba County Airport. During the landing roll, the airplane departed the runway sustaining substantial damage to the lower left wing. Examination of the right main landing gear leg revealed that the outboard segment had separated from the airplane at its root, with the fracture surface in line with the outboard edge of the airframe support structure. The outboard section of the spring leg was sent to the NTSB Office of Research and Engineering, Materials Laboratory Division for examination. Visual examinations of the fracture surface and surrounding material revealed shear lips and granular surface traces initiating from a discolored thumbnail region located slightly forward of the middle point of the lower spring surface. Inspection of the thumbnail region revealed two bands of oxidation containing microscopic fracture features. The inner band was more heavily oxidized, and contained features indicative of fatigue progression. The fatigue initiated on the lower surface and propagated upward into the spring material. The fatigue region measured approximately 0.163 inch wide and had penetrated about 0.072 inch into the gear material. The second outer band displayed lighter colored oxidization features. The overall thumbnail region measured about 0.317 inch wide and had penetrated 0.137 inch into the gear. Outside of the oxidized area the fracture displayed ridges and granular features was consistent with rapid overstress emanating from the thumbnail. Examination of the lower surface of the spring revealed corrosion pitting at the thumbnail origin, and along the line of the fracture. The paint in the area appeared partially intact. Corrosion products were visible on the surface, and pitting was visible under the paint. The paint was also blistered in many areas. The fixed-gear, tailwheel equipped biplane, serial number 729B, was manufactured in 1983. The airplane’s classification was restricted, with a category of agriculture and pest control. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed a total airframe time of 13,509 hours at the last 100-hour annual inspection, which occurred on June 16, 2011, 10 flight hours prior to the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:35 PDT
Nearest AirportYuba County (0nm)
Runway32
Runway Length6006 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Flight Plan ActivatedUnknown
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSchweizer Aircraft G-164B
Tail NumberN3627G
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSutter Butte Dusters
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt And Whitney · PT6A · Turboprop · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 60 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter29.77 inHg
Observation Time17:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data