Schweizer G-164B accident near Hatton, North Dakota, May 18, 1995
On May 18, 1995 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N48532, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hatton, North Dakota (Hatton airport). 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
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, and the excessive airspeed. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, and the soft, wet condition of the sod runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1995 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hatton, North Dakota · Hatton · 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
- N48532 · no longer on the register · serial 62B
- 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 RETURNED TO THE PRIVATE SOD AIRSTRIP TO PICK UP ANOTHER LOAD OF CHEMICALS TO SPRAY A FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT ON THE INITIAL PART OF THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE'S TAIL BEGAN TO RISE. IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOWER THE TAIL, THE PILOT APPLIED ELEVATOR PRESSURE. AS HE APPLIED PRESSURE, THE TAIL WHEEL LOCKED UP AND HE LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AROUND AN EXTREMELY WET AREA ON THE RUNWAY. UPON REACHING THIS WET AREA, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO THE SOFT, WET CONDITION OF THE SOD RUNWAY, APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET OF THE RUNWAY WAS UNUSABLE. HE ALSO STATED THAT HIS APPROACH AIRSPEED TO LAND WAS A LITTLE TOO FAST.
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: 12,000 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,478 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 1995; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 11:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 am from GFK, 30 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.
Other NTSB records under N48532 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.