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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2025 · about 3:30 pm local time
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N7503L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR25LA158.