Schweizer Aircraft CORP 164B accident near Murtaugh, Idaho, September 2, 2010
On September 2, 2010 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Schweizer Aircraft CORP 164B, registered N7502Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Murtaugh, Idaho (Murtaugh Strip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the wind and failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2010 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Murtaugh, Idaho · Murtaugh Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer Aircraft CORP 164B
- Registration
- N7502Y · registry record · serial 821B
- 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 during landing he noticed the wind intensity was increasing at the private airstrip. He departed again for his fifth aerial application flight of the day. While on the takeoff, as the tail was lifting off the ground, a gust of wind struck the airplane and it veered towards the right. The airplane exited the runway surface and struck a power pole, substantially damaging the wings, fuselage and empennage. The nearest weather reporting station, located about 13 miles from the accident airstrip, reported wind at 13 knots gusting to 19 knots. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,063 hours in all; 2,837 in this make and model; 367 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 17,912 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 16, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,036 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 2010; 388 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,630 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-1-151A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N/A Murtaugh ID at 3:20 pm
- Destination: N/A Murtaugh ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,800 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from TWF, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N7502Y 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.