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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2025 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Dover, Delaware · Chandelle · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N8483K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 ERA25LA342.