Schweizer G-164B accident near Clarksburg, California, February 23, 1994
On February 23, 1994 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N36265, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarksburg, 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 TOTAL FAILURE OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER DUE TO FATIGUE RESULTING FROM AN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED MIXTURE CAUSING DETONATION. THE SOFT, WET PLOWED FIELD WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1994 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Clarksburg, 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
- N36265 · registry record · serial 725B
- 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 AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING A PRIVATELY OWNED AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A PLOWED FIELD. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE NO. 1 CYLINDER FAILED IN FATIGUE ORIGINATING AT ITS SPARK PLUG HOLES. THE CYLINDER HEAD COMBUSTION SIGNATURES SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO THIS OPERATING CONDITION FOR SOME TIME. THE DETONATION RESULTED FROM TOO LEAN OF A MIXTURE.
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: 5,700 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 140 in the last 30 days; 5,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,871 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 1994; 192 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°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 N36265 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.