# Accident 20030528010979A: Gulstm 500B, Grand Canyon, AZ, May 28, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 28, 2003, 17:20 local time
- Place: Grand Canyon, AZ
- Airport: Grand Canyon National Park
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9522° N, 112.1469° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9522&lon=-112.1469&mi=10
- Aircraft: N64TS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64TS-2004-06-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander 500-B (registry code 0141106, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULSTM 500B
- Reported engine: LYC IO540E1A5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 26,110 total, 850 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA168) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030528010979A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PRIOR TO FLIGHT THE PILOT RECEIVED A FULL WEATHER BRIEF, THERE WAS BLUE SKY TO THE SOUTH, WEST WAS SCATTERED CLOUDS AND TO THE EAST AND NORTH THERE WAS VERGA. PERFORMED COMPLETE WEIGHT AND BALANCE, APPROXIMATELY 90 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD, WHICH WAS CONFIRMED. ESTIMATED LUGGAGE TO BE 105 LBS AND THE ACTUAL WEIGHT CONFIRMED WAS 99 LBS. FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD, TEMPERATURE WAS 85 DEGREES, ALTIMETER WAS 30.29, DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED AT 9060 FEET PERFORMED PREFLIGHT, OPENED ENGINE COWLINGS CHECKED INTAKE FOR MOTH ENGESTION, CHECKED OIL, DRAINED FUEL, REMOVED GUST LOCKS. STARTED ENGINES, CONTACTED ATIS, TALKED TO TOWER, TAXIED TO RUNWAY, PERFORMED ENGINE RUN UP (CLEARED ENGINES). CONTACTED TOWER, WAS CLEARED FOR RUNWAY 210 FOR TAKEOFF. PILOT CALLED FOR WIND CHECK AND REPLY WAS 300 AT 10 (DIRECT CROSSWIND). STARTED TAKEOFF ROLL, ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 95 MPH, AIRCRAFT ROTATED, GEAR UP, ENGINES RUNNING NORMAL AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET, AIRSPEED STAGNATED AT 92, SEEING THAT THE AIRCRAFT MAY BE IN TROUBLE, THE TOWER TOLD THE PILOT TO GO FOR THE LOW SPOT TO THE RIGHT. NO RESPONSE FROM THE PILOT. THE PILOT WENT STRAIGHT, TRYING TO AVOID SOME PINE TREES, HIS LEFT WING STRUCK A PINE TREE, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO DECELERATE AND VEER TO THE LEFT ABOUT 30 DEGREES FROM RUNWAY HEADING. THE AIRCRAFT WENT APPROXIMATELY 120 YARDS PAST THE TREE BEFORE IMPACT. THE IMPACT WAS SLIGHTLY LEFT WING DOWN AND FLAT. THE AIRCRAFT CART WHEELED TO THE LEFT RIPPING THE TAIL OFF AND CAME TO REST FACING NORTH. FROM THE RUNWAY TO THE PINE TREE THE DISTANCE IS ABOUT 1/2 MILE. IN REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS EXIST WITH THE AIRCRAFT IN ITS CURRENT CONFIGURATION AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF: THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE WAS NORMAL. NO EXCESS BAGGAGE- NO EXCESS FUEL- NO EXCESS PASSENGER WEIGHT- DENSITY ALTITUDE COMPUTATION FOR THE AIRCRAFT WAS WELL WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE ONLY ASSUMPTION WAS THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A WIND SHIFT TOWARDS THE END OF THE RUNWAY GIVING THE AIRCRAFT A TAIL WIND ACCOUNTING FOR THE STAGNATED AIRSPEED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX03LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA168), May 29, 2003: Aero Commander 500B (N64TS), Grand Canyon, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's encounter with a wind shear just after liftoff.

## Other reports on N64TS (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19791229000279I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791229000279I), Dec 29, 1979: Rkwell 500B (N64TS), Van Nuys, CA, Minor damage. Ran off side of runway due to failure of main gear outer bearing. Failure due to lack of lubrication.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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