# NTSB WPR10LA365: Schweizer G-164B, N7502A, Prescott, WA, July 21, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 21, 2010, 06:20 local (13:20 UTC) - Place: Prescott, WA - Coordinates: 46.308334, -118.308334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3083&lon=-118.3083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76752 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA365 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76752/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76752 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA365 ## Probable cause The airplane’s inability to maintain a positive rate of climb after takeoff for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delayed reaction to initiate an emergency release of the spray mixture. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schweizer G-164B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8059055), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he flew into a private airstrip and encountered no problems with the airframe or engine. He loaded 375 gallons of spray mixture and reported that there was no indication of a problem until after liftoff, when the airplane settled back onto the airstrip, although the engine did not lose power. The pilot verified the power readings and determined that there was insufficient runway remaining to abort the takeoff. The airplane lifted off again and crossed a gravel road that was perpendicular to the runway before settling into a fallow field that was across the road. The pilot completed an emergency release of the spray mixture but was unsuccessful in getting airborne prior to colliding with an electric fence. After hitting the fence, he aborted the takeoff. The pilot reported that the airfield was flat, the wind was calm, and the temperature was cool. The airplane was operating below maximum gross weight during the takeoff, and the pilot’s reported instrument and visual perceptions were the same as many other takeoffs that he had made from this airstrip. During a postaccident engine examination, no anomalies were identified that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 2010, about 0620 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N7502A, collided with a fence during an aborted takeoff from a dirt strip near Prescott, Washington. Blue Mountain Aviation was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 as a local agricultural aerial applications flight. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing from impact forces. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Walla Wall Regional Airport, Walla Walla, Washington, about 0600, and flew to a private airstrip. The pilot stated that he departed Wall Walla with empty application tanks, and flew to the dirt strip. He did not report encountering any airframe or engine problems on this flight. He loaded 375 gallons of the spray mixture. The pilot reported that there was no indication of a problem until after liftoff; the airplane settled back onto the airstrip. He verified the power readings, and determined that there was insufficient runway remaining to abort the takeoff. He was not overly concerned, and the airplane lifted off again, and crossed a gravel road that was perpendicular to the runway. The airplane settled into a fallow field that was across the road. The pilot completed an emergency dump, but was unsuccessful in getting airborne prior to colliding with a 2-wire electric fence. After hitting the fence, he aborted the takeoff by pulling both the power and speed controls back to minimum levels. The pilot indicated that the engine continued to produce power throughout the takeoff. The pilot reported that the airfield was flat, and the wind was calm. The instrument and visual perceptions were the same as many other takeoffs that he had made from this strip with equal or heavier loads in warmer conditions. The pilot reported that the gross weight at the time of the accident was 8,265 pounds. The maximum gross weight for the airplane is 9,200 pounds. A post accident engine inspection revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, which the pilot said caused him concern about flying with this engine again since no problems were identified. He could not explain the loss of lift on this day. He felt that with a longer runway he would have been able to abort the takeoff after attaining liftoff speed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7502A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7502A), registered now, S/N 797B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER G-164B - Registry model: [Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 8059055) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 797B - Airframe hours: 923 - Engines: Garrett TPE 331-6-252 600 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Blue Mountain Aviation - Registered owner: Blue Mountain Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 18, 2010 - Departed: Prescott, WA - Destination: Prescott, WA - Airport: Dozier Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 24, 2010; seat: single; flight hours: 9,552 total, 7,833 in this make and model, 9,525 as pilot in command, 158 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KALW, 13 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100721041089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100721041089A), Jul 21, 2010: Allied Agca G-164-B, Prescott, WA, Minor damage. During aerail crop dusting operations pilot attempted take-off with full spray load. After rotation and departure the aircraft settled back to the runway. The… ## Other investigations on N7502A (2) 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 ATL98LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA115), Aug 16, 1998: Schweizer G164B (N7502A), Newton, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The erosion of the compressor impeller and the unsecured fuel control unit resulted in the loss of engine power during the initial climb. - [NTSB MIA95LA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA192), Aug 5, 1995: Schweizer G-164B (N7502A), Quitman, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: Improper (low) outflow from the fuel control unit, due to improper maintenance, which resulted in a loss of engine power and a forced landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76752. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341731&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362536&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362537&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF 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.