- Date
- August 10, 2009, 10:35 local (15:35 UTC)
- Place
- Harlan, IA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4598Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of lift
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 21, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-DSM-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090810014879A
- Case key
- 74507
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 failure to perform accurate weight and balance calculations which resulted in exceeding the maximum takeoff weight and the airplane's climb capability.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the airplane would not climb out of ground effect during takeoff. The airplane settled into a corn field located off the end of the 3,100-foot-long asphalt runway. The left landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the wings. The maximum certified gross weight of the airplane was 4,500 pounds with a basic empty weight of 3,093.8 pounds. The airplane was loaded with 80 gallons of fuel (480 pounds) and 170 gallons (1,419.5 pounds) of water/chemical mix. The pilot's weight was approximately 185 pounds. The airplane was approximately 678.3 pounds over the maximum gross weight at the time of the takeoff.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported the airplane would not climb out of ground effect during takeoff. The airplane settled into a corn field located off the end of the 3,100 foot long asphalt runway. The left landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the wings. The maximum certified gross weight of the airplane was 4,500 pounds with a basic empty weight of 3,093.8 pounds. The airplane was loaded with 80 gallons of fuel (480 pounds) and 170 gallons (1,419.5 pounds) of water/chemical mix. The pilot's weight was approximately 185 pounds. The airplane was approximately 678.3 pounds over the maximum gross weight at the time of the takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4598
- Reported as
- Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1068
- Engine
- P&W R1340 SERIES, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Paulsen Ag Spraying
- Registered owner
- Paulsen Ag Spraying
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- HNR · Harlan, IN
- Destination
- HNR · Harlan, IN
- Airport
- HNR · Harlan Municipal Airport, runway 33, 4,100 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 12, 2008
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 345 total · 39 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 86 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.05 inHg
- Observed at
- OMA, 30 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 30, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 861 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4598 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.