Grumman G-164B accident near Dixon, California, February 25, 1992
On February 25, 1992 at about 4:54 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N3633C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dixon, California (Collier Strip 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 PREMATURE LIFT-OFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH AND THE SOFT DIRT AIRSTRIP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1992 · about 4:54 pm local time
- Place
- Dixon, California · Collier Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3633C · registry record · serial 776B
- 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 CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS DEPARTING A DIRT AIRSTRIP TO BEGIN AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT WITH A LOAD OF CHEMICALS. THE AIRSTRIP HAD NOT BEEN UTILIZED SINCE RECENT RAINS. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT LIFTED OFF PREMATURELY AND THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE BRIEFLY, THEN SETTLED BACK ONTO THE SOFT SURFACE OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP AND NOSED OVER IN A WHEAT FIELD. THE AIRPLANE WAS WITHIN WEIGHT AND BALANCE LIMITS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 3,600 in this make and model; 20,000 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 16, 1992; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sunrise Duster, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,550 ft by 15 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°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.
Other NTSB records under N3633C 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.