Pilot Killed as Homebuilt RV-4 Crashes at Sutter County Airport

A 68-year-old pilot died Thursday morning after his homebuilt Van's RV-4, registration N98GB, crashed at Sutter County Airport in Yuba City, California. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the aircraft took off shortly before 7 a.m. and returned to the airport moments later for reasons that remain unknown.

After landing, the aircraft departed the runway and crashed through a chain-link fence, coming to rest upright in an adjacent field. The pilot, identified by local authorities as Yuba City resident Gerald Binse, was the sole occupant and was pronounced dead at the scene. The FAA classified the aircraft damage as substantial, citing severe damage to the propeller and both wings.

Investigation Underway

The NTSB and FAA are investigating the circumstances of the July 16 crash. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days; a final determination of probable cause typically takes 12 to 24 months. The NTSB has asked witnesses or anyone with surveillance footage to contact investigators at witness@ntsb.gov. The Van's RV-4 is a popular two-seat, single-engine kit-built aircraft — FAA records indicate this specific airplane has been in operation since 1994 — though the cause of this accident remains undetermined.