Paul Benish Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dalton, Nebraska 69131
Tuesady, April 13, 1999 17:05 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that the takeoff run was uneventful, but during the climb the engine experienced a substantial loss of power. The pilot reported that he did not have, '... time, airspeed, or altitude to turn.' The airplane impacted the top of a tree line, a residential structure, a fence, and a propane tank before coming to rest. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies with the airframe and the flight control system. The pilot reported that the airplane was loaded with 120 gallons of a chemical mixture and was within the weight and balance limitations for the aircraft. The fuel pump was tested and was found to be outside the manufacture's limitations. The maximum allowable fuel pressure, at 2,700 rpm and 39.5 inches of mercury, is 37.0 psi. The fuel pump from the accident airplane was bench-tested and yielded 60 psi.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the improper adjustment of the fuel pump by maintenance personnel. Factors to the accident were the excessive output of the fuel pump, trees, residential structure, fence, and propane tank.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/13/1999
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1705
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City DALTON
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69131
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PAUL BENISH AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3880
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID SNY
Elevation of weather observation facility 4312
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 355
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 5812
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 313
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 13 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2017
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2173J
NTSB Number CHI99LA128
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model T-188C
Aircraft Series Identifier T-188C
Aircraft Serial Number T18803410T
Certified Max Gross Weight 4400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 20 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 3741
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AG AIR, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR2 BOX 15
Aircraft Owner City BROADWATER
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 69125
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code A15G
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PVT
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1705
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 3800
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --