- Date
- July 23, 2007, 14:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place
- Walnut Ridge, AR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N8402KGulfstream-Schweizer Gulfstream AM G-164B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 30, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration - Little Rock FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070723016739A
- Case key
- 66365
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 decision to takeoff with a tailwind which resulted in a collision with terrain immediately after liftoff. Factors contributing to the accident were the tailwind and the levee.
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 agricultural airplane impacted terrain during takeoff from runway 18 (2,200 feet long, asphalt/gravel). The pilot stated that prior to the aerial application flight, the airplane was loaded with about 500 lbs of fuel and 2,700 lbs of urea. The takeoff weight was about 7,600 lbs. The maximum demonstrated gross weight for the restricted category airplane was 8,300 lbs. The pilot reported that the wind was approximately "10-12 mph" out of the north and that he performed a "straight downwind takeoff" using full engine power. Halfway down the runway, the pilot "knew [he] was in trouble" and decided to dump the agricultural load. He stated that when the airplane got to the end of the runway, it hit a levee and pitched to a nose high attitude. When the pilot lowered the nose, the airplane "mushed down, losing airspeed." The airplane then impacted terrain tail first, nosed over, and came to rest upside down. Wind conditions reported near the time of the accident were 010 degrees at 8 knots.
Factual narrative
The agricultural airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff from runway 18 (2,200 feet long, asphalt/gravel). The pilot stated that prior to the aerial application flight, the airplane was loaded with about 500 lbs of fuel and 2,700 lbs of urea. The takeoff weight was about 7,600 lbs. The maximum demonstrated gross weight for the restricted category airplane was 8,300 lbs. The pilot reported that the wind was approximately "10-12 mph" out of the north and that he performed a "straight downwind takeoff" using full engine power. Halfway down the runway, the pilot "knew [he] was in trouble" and decided to dump the agricultural load. He stated that when the airplane got to the end of the runway, it hit a levee and pitched to a nose high attitude. When the pilot lowered the nose, the airplane "mushed down, losing airspeed." The airplane then impacted terrain tail first, nosed over, and came to rest upside down. Wind conditions reported near the time of the accident were 010 degrees at 8 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8402K
- Reported as
- Gulfstream-Schweizer Gulfstream AM G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 687B
- Airframe hours
- 10,452.4
- Engine
- Garrett-AiResearch TPE331-1, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Wilson Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 1, 2007
- Departed
- PVT · Walnut Ridge, AR
- Destination
- PVT
- Airport
- PVT · Wilson's Flying Service, runway 18, 2,200 × ft, gravel
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
- 29
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 1, 2007
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 1,085 total · 606 in this make and model · 1,022 as pilot in command · 276 in the last 90 days · 105 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- ARG
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 N8402K · 5
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.