DEN86FA175

NTSB accident investigation · Martin 404 · Buffalo, WY · June 27, 1986

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
June 27, 1986, 05:45 local (11:45 UTC)
Place
Buffalo, WY
Injuries
3 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N40443Martin 404
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dawn
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19860627082839A
Case key
16832

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Analysis

N40443 was contracted by the Wyoming dept of ag to spray grasshoppers. Investigation revealed the plt held a pvt certificate with asmel ratings. His medical certificate was denied because he failed to provide information concerning high blood pressure and alcoholism. Co-plt held a commercial certificate with asel rating. No evidence was found to indicate that either plt had any operating experience in the martin 404 acft. Former employees of operator stated that N40443 was not well maintained. The ADI system and interior lights were inop. Weight of acft at the time of accident was calculated to be 44,492 pounds. The max gross total weight for a 'dry' takeoff from a 4,500 foot rwy was approximately 37,900 pounds. The flt manual performance charts indicate that a rwy length of over 5,500 feet would be needed for an acft at 44,492 pounds. The acft collided with a dirt bank during takeoff.

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.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff
Fluid,adi fluid - inoperativeFactor
Preflight planning/preparation - poorPilot in commandFactor
Lack of total experience in kind of aircraftPilot in commandFactor
Inadeq certification/approval,operation/operatorCompany/operator mgmtCause
Aircraft performance,takeoff capability - exceededCause
Aircraft weight and balance - exceededPilot in commandCause
Lack of recent experience in type of aircraftPilot in commandFactor
Lack of total experienceCopilot/second pilotFactor
Airspeed(vlof) - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Proper climb rate - not possiblePilot in commandCause
Remedial action - not possiblePilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment

Aircraft

Registration
N40443
Reported as
Martin 404
Category
Airplane
Serial number
14228
Engine
P&W R2800-CBC, 1,250 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Registered owner
Frontier Airways, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Airport
BYG · Johnson County, runway 30, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

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
60
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Medical
Unknown, Unknown
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dawn
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
68 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.