Schweizer G-164B accident near Buxton, North Dakota, July 7, 2005
On July 7, 2005 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N6631Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buxton, North Dakota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power on takeoff due to undetermined reasons. A factor was the ditch that the airplane contacted during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2005 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Buxton, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N6631Q · no longer on the register · serial 158B
- 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 collided with the terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff from a private airstrip. The pilot stated that he was initiating the aerial application flight with 265 gallons of fungicide on board when the accident occurred. He reported that he performed an engine run-up which was normal. He stated that just after lifting off, the engine began to lose power and he did not have enough runway left to land back on the runway. The pilot stated that he was able to clear a ditch and a north/south road at the end of the runway and decided to attempt to land on an east/west road in front of him. He stated that the airplane contacted the south side of the road at which time the left gear collapsed. The airplane then slid across the road and came to rest in a ditch on the north side of the road. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed the magnetos fired when tested and continuity was established throughout the engine.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,400 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,730 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2004; 68 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340-53H1-6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Central Valley Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Buxton ND at 2:00 pm
- Destination: Buxton ND
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from GFK, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.