- Date
- February 10, 1991, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Grantham, NC
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N77PBTemco GC-1B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910210001829A
- Case key
- 8373
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper planning/decision, and his attempt to fly the aircraft while it was loaded over its maximum allowable gross weight.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that during takeoff, the airplane became airborne, but would not climb or gain airspeed. Subsequently, it was damaged during a forced landing. No pre-accident mechanical problems were reported. An investigation revealed that the aircraft was approximately 175 pounds over its maximum allowable gross weight. The fuel on board the aircraft was gold in color and smelled like auto fuel.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N77PB
- Reported as
- Temco GC-1B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1390
- Airframe hours
- 2,220
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Benton, Binford E.
- Registered owner
- Benton, Binford E.
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 16, 1986 · 29 hours before
- Departed
- 6NCO · Grantham, NC
- Airport
- 6NCO · Cox Grantham, runway 21, 2,800 × 60 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Flight hours
- 918 total · 4 in this make and model · 856 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Observed at
- GSB, 56 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.