- Date
- July 21, 2001, 19:30 local (Jul 22, 2001, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Dodge Center, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5398Grumman-Schweizer G-164A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 3, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
- FAA report
- 20010721018959A
- Case key
- 52824
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 not maintaining directional control on the ground during the takeoff roll. Factors relating to this accident were the total failure of the propeller governor and the corn crop.
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 said that while taking off to the south the airplane did not lift off like normal. The pilot said the airplane moved to the left side of the runway. The pilot said, "I got the left wing in the corn. The airplane went sideways until [the] right gear collapsed. Then it started on fire." An examination of the engine revealed that the propeller governor had failed. An examination of the remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies.
Factual narrative
On July 21, 2001, at 1930 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N5398, spray airplane, operated by a commercial pilot was destroyed during takeoff from a private airstrip 2 miles southeast of Dodge Center, Minnesota, when it ran off the runway. A post-crash fire ensued. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
In his written statement, the pilot said that while taking off to the south the airplane did not lift off like normal. The pilot said the airplane moved to the left side of the runway. The pilot said, "I got the left wing in the corn. The airplane went sideways until [the] right gear collapsed. Then it started on fire."
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane was consumed by the post-crash fire. The corn crop in the immediate vicinity of the airplane was also consumed by fire. Flight control continuity was established. An examination of the engine revealed that the propeller governor had failed. An examination of the remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5398
- Reported as
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1148
- Airframe hours
- 7,884
- Engine
- P&W R985-AN-14B, 450 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Fairmont Aerial Ag Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 5, 2001 · 70 hours before
- Departed
- Dodge Center, MN
- Airport
- Private, runway 18, 2,640 × 100 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
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- May 5, 2000
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 6,780 total · 2,100 in this make and model · 6,383 as pilot in command · 73 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.84 inHg
- Observed at
- RST, 16 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.
Other investigations on N5398 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.