# NTSB CEN14LA308: Gulfstream Schweizer A/C Gulfstream AM G 164C, N7501Z, Beech Grove, AR, June 19, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 19, 2014, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Beech Grove, AR
- Coordinates: 36.160312, -90.610847 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1603&lon=-90.6108&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 12, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89512
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA308
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89512/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89512
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA308

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in his attempt to take off with insufficient climb performance to climb out of ground effect in the high-density altitude conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=3979906), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=3979906), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=3979906), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Gulfstream Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3979906), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Gulfstream Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3979906), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane took off with a quartering tailwind of about 10 to 15 mph. The takeoff was normal; however, shortly after lifting off, the airplane began to settle back toward the ground. The pilot started to dump the fertilizer load, but the airplane subsequently descended to the ground and then hit a rice levee. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He noted that the accident might have been prevented if he had paid closer attention to the density altitude; the density altitude was calculated to be 2,205 feet, which would have increased the airplane's ground roll and decreased its climb performance.

## Factual narrative

On June 19, 2014, about 1200 central daylight time, a Gulfstream Schweizer G-164C (Grumman Ag-Cat) airplane, N7501Z, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff from a private airstrip near Beech Grove, Arkansas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by HDS Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.The pilot reported he took off to the north from a 2,500-foot long asphalt runway, with 2,500 lbs. of fertilizer on-board. He added that there was a south wind from about 220 degrees at 10 to 15 miles per hour. The takeoff was normal; however, shortly after lifting off, the airplane began to settle back toward the ground. The pilot started to dump the fertilizer load, but he was unable to recover. The airplane subsequently settled onto the ground and encountered a rice levee. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot noted that the accident might have been prevented by paying closer attention to density altitude. The accident airplane was powered by a 600-shaft horsepower Garrett model TPE-331-10 turboprop engine. The maximum gross weight for the airplane was 8,625 lbs. The pilot reported that the airplane weight at the time of the accident takeoff was 7,125 lbs. He stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. Weather conditions recorded at the Jonesboro Municipal Airport (JBR), located about 20 miles south of the accident site, at 1153, were: wind from 230 degrees at 8 knots; scattered clouds at 3,200 feet agl, scattered clouds at 3,900 feet agl; 10 miles visibility, temperature 30.0 degrees Celsius, dew point 22.2 degrees Celsius, altimeter 30.11 inches of mercury. The associated station pressure was 29.81 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 2,205 feet. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25A) noted that density altitude represents pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature. A decrease in air density corresponds with an increase in density altitude and a decrease in airplane performance. Density altitude is used in calculating airplane performance. The handbook also noted the effect of wind on takeoff distance is large, requiring proper consideration on takeoff performance. A tailwind of 10-percent of the takeoff airspeed will increase the takeoff distance approximately 21-percent.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7501Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7501Z-2021-04-10), registration cancelled 2021-04-10, S/N 42C (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM SCHWEIZER A/C CORP GULFSTREAM AM G 164C
- Registry model: [Gulfstream Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164C](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-schweizer-a-c-gulfstream-am-g-164c) (registry code 3979906) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 42C
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 3078
- Engines: Garrett TPE-331-10 600 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Hds Inc
- Registered owner: Hds Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 2014, 53 hours before
- Departed: PVT, Beech Grove, AR
- Destination: PVT, Beech Grove, AR
- Airport: PVT, Private, runway N, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 7, 2014; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,500 total, 700 in this make and model, 7,300 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: JBR, 20 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20140619009929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140619009929A), Jun 19, 2014: Gulfstream Schweizer A/C Corp GULFSTREAM AM G-164C, Beech Grove, AR, Substantial damage. On Thursday, June 19, 2014 at approximately 1200 CDT, a Grumman ag cat, N7501Z registered to Harvey Songer ag service, lost lift after takeoff from the Songer…

## Other investigations on N7501Z (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 CEN17LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA230), Jun 14, 2017: Grumman G164 (N7501Z), Delaplaine, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89512. 4.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418354&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Density Altitude Calculation (item 2, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Density%20Altitude%20Calculation-Master.PDF
- FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge - Excerpt (item 3, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Pilot%27s%20Handbook%20of%20Aeronautical%20Knowledge%20-%20Excerpt-Master.PDF
- Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF

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.

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