Schweizer G-164B, N8214S: Accident occurred May 09, 2013 in Biggs, California

NTSB Identification: WPR13LA223 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, May 09, 2013 in Biggs, CA
Aircraft: SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP G-164B, registration: N8214S
Injuries: 1 Fatal,1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On May 9, 2013 about 1630 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer, G-164B, N8214S, collided with runway service equipment during the landing roll at the William’s Ag Services airstrip, Biggs, California. The pilot was not injured; the operator of the service equipment was fatally injured. The airplane sustained damage to the right wing and fuselage belly area. The aircraft was registered to Clarence E. Williams, and operated by Williams Ag Service under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a post-maintenance repositioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Yuba County Airport, Marysville, California at about 1615.

The pilot reported that he radioed his intention of landing while on the approach to the runway. He was reminded over the radio that maintenance was being done on the south end of the runway. He stated that he scanned the area and saw trucks. The pilot landed about midway down the runway and started ‘S’ turns and saw nothing on the runway. Shortly after the collision the pilot stopped the airplane. He further stated that everything with the flight was normal up until the collision.

According to the property owners, maintenance personnel were repairing potholes on the runway surface when the collision occurred.

BIGGS -- A man who died Thursday after being struck by a taxiing airplane was reportedly hearing-impaired and probably didn't hear the aircraft approaching, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

Texas resident Willie Valdez Suarez, 66, of Houston, was hit while a crop-dusting aircraft was on the ground at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday at a landing strip owned by Williams Ag Service, off Afton Road near Riceton Highway northwest of Biggs, according to the BCSO.

Suarez was hired by a contractor as part of a crew to repave the private landing strip, said Undersheriff Kory Honea.

The unidentified pilot reportedly circled the runway and it appeared to be clear so he went to land, Honea said.

The design of the crop-dusting plane puts its nose at an upward angle when it's on the ground. That requires the pilot to zig-zag down the runway to be able to see ahead, Honea said.

As the unidentified pilot was making a sweeping S-turn, the propeller hit Suarez, who had come back on the runway.

From family members and witnesses, it was learned Suarez was severely hearing-impaired and probably didn't hear the plane coming, according to the BCSO.

The fixed-wing, single-engine turboprop plane is owned by Williams Ag Service.

Suarez was deceased prior to the arrival of first responders, according to the BCSO.

The BCSO, the Federal Aviation Administration and the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health will continue to investigate the case, which is protocol for these types of incidents, Honea said.

Clarence Williams, owner of Williams Ag Service, could not be reached by deadline. 

http://registry.faa.gov/N8214S

http://www.chicoer.com