Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B accident near Butte City, California, May 9, 2025
On May 9, 2025 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1990 Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B, registered N7503L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Butte City, California (Private airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s use of engine beta prior to ensuring the tailwheel was on the ground during landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2025 · about 3:30 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Butte City, California · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B, built 1990 · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7503L · registry record · serial 826B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the approach to land was fast. During landing rollout, he used engine beta to slow the airplane while the tail of the airplane was not on the ground. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to both the top wings, empennage, and engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 697 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 2,700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 31, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,005 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2025; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 SERIES (piston); 15,745 hours total
- Operator: Cw Equipment Rentals INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway UNK, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from SAC, 60 miles away
Weather report (METAR): 8:53 AM 70 °F 50 °F 49 % N 3 mph 0 mph 30.04 in 0.0 in Fair
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
![[WPR25LA158] Photograph 1 – Airplane Wreckage – Left Side, from the NTSB investigation of Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B accident near Butte City, California, May 9, 2025](/accidents/WPR25LA158/photos/18838783-2t.jpg?v=1312x1536)
[WPR25LA158] Photograph 1 – Airplane Wreckage – Left Side![[WPR25LA158] Photograph 2 – Airplane Wreckage - Front, from the NTSB investigation of Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B accident near Butte City, California, May 9, 2025](/accidents/WPR25LA158/photos/18838783-3t.jpg?v=1312x1744)
[WPR25LA158] Photograph 2 – Airplane Wreckage - FrontThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 17, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7503L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7503L on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schweizer Aircraft Corp G-164 64 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: P&W R1340 SERIES 1,229 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,761 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N7503L 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR25LA158.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.