- Date
- August 16, 1989, 11:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Ely, NV
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8796HNavion A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 5, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890816030189A
- Case key
- 41064
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
Improper planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in failure to obtain/maintain adequate airspeed to remain airborne after lift-off, and an inadvertent stall. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's attempt to fly the aircraft with excessive gross weight and high density altitude.
Analysis
Shortly after takeoff, the airplane was observed to climb about 50 to 100 ft AGL, then it began to lose altitude. Witnesses reported that the nose dipped & raised, then the airplane collided with the runway. Contraband & uncertified fuel tanks were found on board the plane. It was estimated to have been loaded to 2927 lbs (377 lbs over its maximum gross weight limit). Density altitude was about 9600 ft. the airplane's last annual inspection was dated 5/16/86.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8796H
- Reported as
- Navion A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- NAV-4-796
- Engine
- Continental E-185-9, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Roy Garrison
- Destination
- GJT · Grand Junction, CO
- Airport
- ELY · Yelland Field, runway 18, 5,998 × 150 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
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 20 knots
- Visibility
- 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.