Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164D accident near Butte City, California, May 16, 2013
On May 16, 2013 at about 2:00 am local time, a Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164D, registered N83110, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Butte City, California. 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 failure to maintain airplane control after an encounter with wake turbulence while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue due to extended hours of wakefulness and high workload.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2013 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Butte City, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164D · all G-164Ds on the register
- Registration
- N83110 · registry record · serial 110
- 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 at a low altitude and in a turn for the next agricultural aerial application run when the airplane encountered its wake turbulence, and the inside wing stalled. He tried to apply rudder to recover, but the airplane inverted and pitched nosedown before it impacted terrain. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot awoke at 0445 on the day of the accident. He had been awake for over 15 hours and had flown 71 application loads during 12 of those hours at the time of the accident. Due to the early wake time and high work load, the pilot was most likely fatigued at the time of the accident.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Inflight upset during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Alertness/Fatigue › Fatigue due to work schedule › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Wake turbulence › Ability to respond/compensate
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,150 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 24, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jones Flying Service, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: Biggs CA at 1:55 am
- Destination: Biggs CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KOVE
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.
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.