Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B accident near Beltrami, Minnesota, June 27, 2023
On June 27, 2023 at about 11:55 pm local time, a 1990 Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B, registered N7503H, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Beltrami, Minnesota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A collision with terrain and subsequent nose over for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2023 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Beltrami, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B, built 1990 · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7503H · no longer on the register · serial 825B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane departed on an aerial application flight for a field south of the departure airport. The flight was the second to the field and the pilot’s 19th flight of the day. Data extracted from the airplane’s GPS guidance system showed that on departure the airplane climbed to 1,200 ft mean sea level (msl) and proceeded south to the field where the pilot descended to about 20 ft above the field and began the first of 12 application runs. On completion of the 12th run, the airplane climbed to about 1,250 ft msl and made two north to south orbits over the east end of the field. On completion of the second orbit, the airplane made a left turn to a heading of about 270o and descended to an altitude of 816 ft msl. The airplane proceeded west across the field from east to west. The last recorded data point showed the airplane at the west edge of the field on a 270o heading, at an altitude of 816 ft msl, and an airspeed of 134.1 mph. The airplane was discovered in a beet field about 1/4 mile north-northwest of the field that had been sprayed. There were no witnesses to the accident. The airplane impacted the ground in an upright wings-level, nose-down attitude, nosed over, and came to rest inverted about 45 feet northwest of the initial impact point. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the cowling and fuselage, upper and lower wings, and the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The main landing gear were separated, and the propeller showed s-bending and chordwise scratches. Jet-A fuel was present and examined at the site with no contaminants. A postaccident examination of the airplane and subsequent examinations of the engine, propeller, and propeller governor showed no preaccident failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the collision with terrain and nose over could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,045 hours in all; 3,233 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,978 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2023; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,020 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-1-151A (turboprop); 15,878 hours total
- Operator: Gasper Air Spray, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: MY59 Euclid MN at 11:20 pm
- Destination: MY59 Euclid MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from KCKN, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCKN 280035Z AUTO 13005KT 10SM BKN095 24/17 A2980 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN23FA269.