Gulfstream-Schweizer G-164B accident near Ephrata, Washington, May 4, 2000
On May 4, 2000 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Gulfstream-Schweizer G-164B, registered N8130K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ephrata, Washington. 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
Loss of engine power due to failure of the number three cylinder exhaust valve push rod. Soft terrain encountered during the landing roll-out was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2000 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ephrata, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gulfstream-Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N8130K · no longer on the register · serial 576 B
- 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 while on a routine aerial application flight, engine oil began to appear on the aircraft's windscreen. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft's engine began to 'backfire and eventually quit'. The pilot executed a forced landing in an open field. During the landing roll-out, the aircraft encountered soft terrain and nosed over. Post-accident examination of the aircraft's engine revealed that the exhaust valve push rod on the number three cylinder had failed.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 3,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2000; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: The Cropduster INC
The flight
- Departed from: Coulee City WA at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from EPH, 2 miles away
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.