Schweizer G164 accident near Gwinner, North Dakota, June 16, 1991
On June 16, 1991 at about 10:45 am local time, a Schweizer G164, registered N48687, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gwinner, 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
INADVERTENT CLOSING OF THE MIXTURE BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE INADEQUATE CONTROL SHAPE, OR SIZE, AND INATTENTIVENESS OF THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1991 · about 10:45 am local time
- Place
- Gwinner, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G164
- Registration
- N48687 · no longer on the register · serial 157B
- 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 PILOT WAS CLIMBING OUT AFTER TAKEOFF FOR AN AGRICULTURAL OPERATION. AT 250 FEET AGL HE REDUCED POWER AND RPM, AND STARTED A TURN. THE PILOT THEN REALIZED THAT THE RPM WAS DROPPING AND HE HAD NO POWER. A HARD LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN A NOSE OVER WAS MADE IN A FARMER'S FIELD. THE PROPELLER CONTROL AND THE MIXTURE ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER, AND ARE THE SAME SHAPE AND SIZE IN THIS MODEL AIRCRAFT.
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: 2,400 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,148 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 1990; 140 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W 1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Hoistad Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 210° at 1 knots, gusting 2
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N48687 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.