Schweizer G-164B accident near Livingston, California, July 18, 1989
On July 18, 1989 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N8371K, was destroyed in an accident near Livingston, California. 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 DECISION TO ATTEMPT A TAKEOFF ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A FACTOR WAS THE WATER ON THE AIRSTRIP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1989 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Livingston, California · 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
- N8371K · no longer on the register · serial 666B
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A LARGE PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. THE RUNWAY WAS LOCATED NEXT TO A FIELD THAT WAS RECENTLY IRRIGATED AND THE PILOT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PUDDLE OF WATER FROM THE FIELD. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 1,085 hours in all; 187 in the last 90 days; 96 in the last 30 days; 1,064 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,046 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 23, 1988; 154 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Livingston CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,700 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.
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.