Schweizer G-164B accident near Yuba City, California, May 12, 1994
On May 12, 1994 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164B, registered N8214S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yuba City, 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
AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH AFTER TAKEOFF. THE OVER-WEIGHT LOADING OF THE AIRCRAFT 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 12, 1994 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yuba City, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N8214S · registry record · serial 7878
- 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 AIRCRAFT STALLED AND SETTLED TO THE GROUND SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM AN AGRICULTURAL AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 87 DEGREES F, AND THAT HE HAD 2800 POUNDS OF HERBICIDE ON BOARD. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE RUNNING NORMALLY. ACCORDING TO FAA DOCUMENTATION, MAXIMUM HOPPER CAPACITY ON THIS AIRCRAFT IS 2000 POUNDS.
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: 4,000 hours in all; 2,400 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sutter Butte Dusters, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°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 N8214S 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.