# NTSB DFW05CA133: Grumman 164-B, N3629K, Fontaine, AR, May 24, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 24, 2005, 00:01 local (05:01 UTC) - Place: Fontaine, AR - Coordinates: 35.817501, -90.641113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8175&lon=-90.6411&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Little Rock, Arkansas - NTSB case key (mKey): 61569 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05CA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61569/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA133 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance during a downwind takeoff with a full load of fertilizer. Factor contributing to the accident were the prevailing tailwind and the high density altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - berm - object - wire,static - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 9,100-hour commercial pilot reported that with the aircraft full of fuel (80 gallons) and a load of 2,250 pounds of fertilizer, he set engine power and departed downwind (10 mph tailwind) on a 2,600 foot by 20 foot paved runway. During the departure, the airplane's main landing gear "clipped" the top of a levee just beyond the departure end of runway 22. The pilot stated that he lowered the nose and flew in ground-effect until he could accelerate and fly "up-and-over" some powerlines. After clearing the powerlines the airplane started to "settle", the pilot decided to dump the load of fertilizer and start a shallow turn into the wind. With the airplane continuing to "settle", the pilot elected to land on a dirt road; however, the airplane struck some trees and an electric wire, causing the airplane to pitch down and impact the ground. The density altitude was calculated at 1,964 feet. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 2005, approximately 12:30 central daylight time, a single-engine Grumman G164-B turbo-prop agricultural airplane, N2629K, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during take-off from a private strip near Fontaine, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Scott Flying Service, Inc., of Bono, Arkansas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight. The 9,100-hour commercial pilot reported that he had been operating the airplane with similar loads from the same 2,600-foot long, by 20-foot wide asphalt runway for about 4 hours prior to his lunch break. On the first flight of the afternoon, with the aircraft full of fuel (80 gallons) and a load of 2,250 pounds of fertilizer, he set engine takeoff power and departed downwind on runway 22 (with a 10 mph tailwind). During the initial takeoff climb, the airplane's main landing gear "clipped" the top of a levee just beyond the departure end of Runway 22. The pilot stated that he lowered the nose and flew in ground-effect until he could accelerate and fly "up-and-over" some powerlines. After clearing the powerlines in his flight path, the airplane started to "settle," and the pilot elected to dump the load of fertilizer and start a shallow turn into the prevailing wind. With the airplane continuing to "settle," the pilot elected to land on a dirt road; however, the airplane struck some trees and an electric wire, causing the airplane to pitch down and impact the ground. The pilot added that the "air was unstable and thin, not much lift." An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who traveled to the scene of the accident, revealed structural damage to the upper and lower left wings. The airplane came to rest on its right side on a partially flooded rice field located about 0.8 miles southeast of the point of departure. There was no fire. At 1253, the automated weather observing system at JBR, approximately 10 miles southeast of the accident site, reported wind at 020 degrees at 10 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 2,000 feet, broken clouds at 2,500 feet, 84 Fahrenheit, dew point 54 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.86 inches of Mercury. The investigator-in-charge calculated the density altitude at the time of the accident at 1,964 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3629K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3629K), registered now, S/N 748B, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman 164-B - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-g-164b) (registry code 3960204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01517, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 748B - Airframe hours: 9649 - Engines: Allied Signal TPE-331-2 turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Scott Flying Service, Inc, doing business as Scott Flying Service - Registered owner: Scott Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2005, 39 hours before - Departed: Fontaine, AR - Destination: Fontaine, AR - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review March 1, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 9,124 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 9,014 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: JBR ## 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 20050524008839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050524008839A), May 24, 2005: Scwzer G164B, Fontaine, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 24, 2005, at 1300 CDT, after takeoff, a Grumman "ag cat" G-164B, N3629K, struck a tree and 4 small power lines approximately 0.85 miles southwest… ## Other investigations on N3629K (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ATL85LKG08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LKG08), Jul 26, 1985: Schweizer AG CAT (N3629K), Samson, AL, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.