Schweizer G-164B accident near Lodi, California, April 20, 2000
On April 20, 2000 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N3629F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lodi, California. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2000 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lodi, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N3629F · no longer on the register · serial 745B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a positioning flight while the pilot was flying toward an auxiliary strip, the engine lost all power, surged to full power, and then quit completely. The pilot attempted a forced landing in a short field and on approach, the airplane collided with a berm and nosed over. During the subsequent examination, 45 gallons of fuel was found in the center fuel tank. No evidence was observed of any mechanical problems with the airframe or engine. The airplane's total time was about 13,085 hours since new. The current engine was installed in 1997, and its total time was about 8,180 hours (1,237 hours since last major overhaul). An FAA airworthiness inspector responded to the accident site and examined the airplane. No evidence was observed of any mechanical problems with the airframe. The engine and damaged engine-related accessories were examined, with no anomalies found. The carburetor was observed destroyed in the impact and was not functionally testable. No evidence of any internal mechanical malfunction was found within the engine or testable accessories and the engine was returned to service.
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: 14,300 hours in all; 12,100 in this make and model; 357 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 14,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,085 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 10, 2000; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,170 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-ANI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCY Tracy CA at 1:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 118°F (48°C), dew point 115°F (46°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from SCK, 15 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 N3629F 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.