- Date
- July 4, 2007, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Joes, CO
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8459KGrumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 30, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20070704013789A
- Case key
- 66159
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 takeoff planning and subsequent failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff. Contributing factors were the high density altitude and tailwind.
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
Prior to the aerial application flight, the airplane was refueled to a maximum of 114 gallons and the hopper was filled with 250 gallons (335 gallons maximum) of chemical. The pilot departed to the south on the 1/2 mile private dirt airstrip. During the initial takeoff climb, the airplane impacted corn stalks located at the end of the airstrip. Subsequently, the airplane cart-wheeled and came to rest in the field. The operator reported the temperature was approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the winds were at "few knots from the northeast." The calculated density altitude was 6,620 feet mean sea level (msl).
Factual narrative
According to the operator, prior to the aerial application flight, the airplane was refueled to a maximum of 114 gallons and the hopper was filled with 250 gallons (335 gallons maximum) of chemical. The pilot departed to the south on the 1/2 mile private dirt airstrip. During the initial takeoff climb, the airplane impacted corn stalks located at the end of the airstrip. Subsequently, the airplane cart-wheeled and came to rest in the field. The operator reported the temperature was approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the winds were at "few knots from the northeast." The commercial pilot, sole occupant on board, sustained minor injuries. Examination of the airplane revealed the wings were bent, one main landing gear was separated, and the fuselage was buckled. The calculated density altitude was 6,620 feet mean sea level (msl).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8459K
- Reported as
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 701B
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Western Ag Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- Joes, CO
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
- 70
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2
- Flight hours
- 12,000 total · 1,000 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
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 N8459K · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.