Schweizer G-164B accident near Tracy, California, February 21, 1996
On February 21, 1996 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N6674Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tracy, California (Haley AG 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
overheating and failure of the engine's master rod and master rod bearing due to oil starvation. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 1996 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tracy, California · Haley AG 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
- N6674Q · no longer on the register · serial 196B
- 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 pilot reported that he was about 1/4 mile from the airport at 50 feet in the initial climb, when the engine began a severe vibration, then it stopped, abruptly. The pilot selected the only available landing area, which was a muddy field, and the aircraft nosed over during the landing ground roll. Preliminary examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was seized and would not move. Partial disassembly of the engine revealed that it had sustained a catastrophic internal failure. The No. 5 piston (master) was found out of it's respective cylinder, with the connecting rod elongated and bent. The rod end cap was attached on one side and separated on the other. Evidence of heat and stretching was observed near the crankpin area of the rod. The bearing could not be examined due to internal damage of the engine.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 21,000 hours in all; 17,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 20,800 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,449 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 15, 1996; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,500 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N6674Q 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.