# NTSB DEN86FA175: Martin 404, N40443, Buffalo, WY, June 27, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 27, 1986, 05:45 local (11:45 UTC)
- Place: Buffalo, WY
- Coordinates: 44.340328, -106.709754 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3403&lon=-106.7098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16832
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FA175
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16832/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA175

## 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

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - fluid,adi fluid - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - inadeq certification/approval,operation/operator, company/operator mgmt (cause)
  - aircraft performance,takeoff capability - exceeded (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vlof) - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper climb rate - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40443](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40443-1991-05-02), registration cancelled 1991-05-02, S/N 14228 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Martin Company 404
- Registry model: [Martin 404](https://openairdocs.org/model/martin-404) (registry code 5450702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 14228
- Engines: P&W R2800-CBC 1250 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19860627082839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860627082839A), Jun 27, 1986: Martin 404MARTIN, Buffalo, WY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Failed to climb on takeoff. Overgrossed at a high density altitude. Pilot not properly rated, certificates revoked.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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