Rockwell S-2R and Grumman-Schweizer G-164B mid-air collision near Burley, Idaho, July 16, 1998
On July 16, 1998 at about 2:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Rockwell S-2R (N5036X) and Grumman-Schweizer G-164B (N6649K), were involved in a mid-air collision near Burley, Idaho. 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A failure of both pilots to see and avoid each other's aircraft due to inadequate visual lookout.
A failure of both pilots to see and avoid each other's aircraft due to inadequate visual lookout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1998 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Burley, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N5036X · no longer on the register · serial 5086R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N6649K · no longer on the register · serial 405B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Rockwell S-2R final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two agricultural airplanes collided in flight, and subsequently impacted terrain. Both aircraft were substantially damaged, and the pilot of each aircraft was fatally injured. The G-164B was heading to a job site with a load and the S-2R was returning from a job site empty. Visual meteorological conditions (clear skies and 30 miles visibility) prevailed. There were no witnesses to the crash. Evidence developed during on-scene investigation by FAA inspectors indicated that at the time of the collision, the S-2R was heading generally northeast and the G-164B was heading generally southeast. U.S. Naval Observatory astronomical data indicated that at Burley at 0800 on July 16, the azimuth of the sun was 076.9 degrees true, at an altitude of 17.6 degrees.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Grumman-Schweizer G-164B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two agricultural airplanes collided in flight, and subsequently impacted terrain. Both aircraft were substantially damaged, and the pilot of each aircraft was fatally injured. The G-164B was heading to a job site with a load and the S-2R was returning from a job site empty. Visual meteorological conditions (clear skies and 30 miles visibility) prevailed. There were no witnesses to the crash. Evidence developed during on-scene investigation by FAA inspectors indicated that at the time of the collision, the S-2R was heading generally northeast and the G-164B was heading generally southeast. U.S. Naval Observatory astronomical data indicated that at Burley at 0800 on July 16, the azimuth of the sun was 076.9 degrees true, at an altitude of 17.6 degrees.
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 for the Rockwell S-2R from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,210 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,090 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1997; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Curtis Wright R-1820-97 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Burley ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 pm from BYI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Grumman-Schweizer G-164B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 11, 1997; 300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Burley ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.