On February 23, 2010, about 1330 Pacific standard time, a Schweizer Aircraft Corporation, G-164B, N8494K, experienced a loss of engine power near Byron, California. Haley Flying Service, Inc., operated the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural crop-dusting operation. The airplane sustained structural damage after making a forced landing on a soft dirt field and nosing over onto its back. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions were prevalent in the area, and no flight plan had been filed.
According to the pilot, on the accident flight he had flown 15 minutes when the loss of engine power occurred. He had just finished spraying a field and was making a turn back to the operator's airstrip when the engine began to run rough, and there was a significant power loss. As the airplane was at a low altitude, he had just enough time to turn into the wind and line up with an open field. The pilot described the field as being deeply furrowed and bare. Upon touchdown the tires and landing gear sank into the soft wet ground, and the airplane nosed over.
The airplane was located 2 days later by an airborne pilot who observed it in the field and reported it to Northern California terminal radar approach control (TRACON) personnel.