Schweizer G-164B accident near Live Oak, California, July 27, 1994
On July 27, 1994 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N3627Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Live Oak, California (Sutter Butte Duster 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 improper adjustment of the fuel control unit by contract maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1994 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Live Oak, California · Sutter Butte Duster Strip · 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
- N3627Q · registry record · serial 730B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON SHORT FINAL, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD 25 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A BERM AND NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION WAS PERFORMED OF THE AIRPLANE'S MAINTENANCE HISTORY AND ENGINE. EVIDENCE WAS FOUND INDICATING THAT THE OPERATOR HAD PREVIOUSLY REQUESTED HIS CONTRACT MAINTENANCE TO RESOLVE EARLIER ENGINE POWER LOSS EVENTS. ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR ABOUT 2.7 HOURS SINCE LAST RECEIVING MAINTENANCE. THE TEARDOWN EXAMINATION REVEALED THE ENGINE'S FUEL CONTROL UNIT LINKAGE HAD BEEN MANIPULATED SUCH THAT IT PRODUCED IDLE FLOW RATES OUTSIDE OF REQUIRED SETTINGS.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,750 hours in all; 2,650 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,305 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1993; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sutter Butte Dusters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 2:30 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,640 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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 N3627Q 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.