- Date
- June 3, 1995, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Collegeport, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7501PSchweizer G-164B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950603049389A
- Case key
- 19444
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 planning/decision by attempting to takeoff in an overweight condition from an 1,800 foot runway. Factors were the wet and soft condition of the runway.
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 aerial application pilot was taking off from an 1,800 foot, 'soft, wet' airstrip in an airplane 'overloaded' with fertilizer and fuel. The airplane did not attain flying speed within the length of the runway. The airplane overran the end of the runway impacting bushes and small trees coming to rest in the inverted position.
Factual narrative
On June 3, 1995, at 1600 central daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N7501P, was substantially damaged during takeoff near Collegeport, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured. The aircraft was being operated by Fehmel Planes, Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight and a flight plan was not filed.
During a personal interview, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot stated that the airplane was loaded with fertilizer and refueled at an 1,800 foot airstrip. He further stated that during the takeoff roll, the soft, wet ground prevented the "overloaded" airplane from attaining takeoff airspeed. The airplane overran the end of the runway impacting bushes and small trees before coming to rest in the inverted position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7501P
- Reported as
- Schweizer G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 804B
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-15AG, 550 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Fehmel Planes, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- NONE
- Airport
- NONE · None, runway 36, 1,800 × 75 ft, grass/turf
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
- 48
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 8,800 total · 5,400 in this make and model · 7,600 as pilot in command · 422 in the last 90 days · 218 in the last 30 days · 12 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PSX, 8 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.