Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B accident near Dover, Delaware, September 9, 2025
On September 9, 2025 at about 7:35 pm local time, a 1983 Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B, registered N8483K, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Dover, Delaware (Chandelle airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s exceedance of the critical angle of attack which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low to recover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2025 · about 7:35 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Dover, Delaware · Chandelle · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B, built 1983 · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8483K · registry record · serial 708B
- 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 reported that the airplane became airborne prior to reaching the intended airspeed. He continued the takeoff and during initial climb, the pilot increased the pitch of the airplane in an attempt to clear a set of power lines. This resulted in an exceedance of the critical angle of attack and subsequent aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted a set of trees and the ground resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,888.9 hours in all; 2,232.3 in this make and model; 325.9 in the last 90 days; 84.6 in the last 30 days; 2,825.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 25, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,040.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2025; 147 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell TPE331-6 (turboprop); 7,063 hours total
- Operator: Air Enterprises LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 2,533 ft by 28 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from DOV, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDOV 091855Z AUTO 06009KT 10SM BKN042 23/14 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP237 T02260139
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of the airplane at the accident site.
Photograph 2 – View of the airplane at the accident site.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on December 4, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Pilot Flight Time | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N8483K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8483K on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schweizer Aircraft Corp G-164 64 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Honeywell TPE331-6 3 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Chandelle Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Delaware 116 since 1982 · 16 in the last ten years
- Delaware 10,969 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N8483K 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA25LA342.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.