- Date
- July 20, 2007, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- West Liberty, IA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N8490KSchweizer G-164B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 30, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Des Moines FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070720013029A
- Case key
- 66348
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 inadvertent encounter with birds immediately after takeoff and the resulting loss of engine power. Contributing factors were the fence and ditch encountered during the overrun.
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 airplane was substantially damaged during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power after takeoff. The pilot reported that he was taking off on runway 36 (2,300 feet by 66 feet, turf) when he encountered birds about 50 feet above ground level. He noted that the engine lost power and the aircraft settled to the ground. He was unable to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. During the runway overrun, the airplane subsequently struck a fence, encountered a ditch, and subsequently nosed over before coming to rest. A post accident survey of the runway revealed bird feathers and remains near midfield on the runway centerline.
Factual narrative
The airplane was substantially damaged during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power after takeoff. The pilot reported that he was taking off on runway 36 (2,300 feet by 66 feet, turf) when he encountered birds about 50 feet above ground level. He noted that the engine lost power and the aircraft settled to the ground. He was unable to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. During the runway overrun, the airplane subsequently struck a fence, encountered a ditch, and subsequently nosed over before coming to rest. A post accident survey of the runway revealed bird feathers and remains near midfield on the runway centerline.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8490K
- Reported as
- Schweizer G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 710B
- Engine
- Garrett TPE331, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- CAT Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- 4IA2 · West Liberty, IA
- Airport
- 4IA2 · Walker Field, runway 36, 2,300 × 66 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
- 55
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2007
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 350 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- MUT, 14 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.