Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grants, New Mexico 87020
Sunday, August 27, 1995 16:13 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the engine appeared to be operating normally during startup, taxi, and the takeoff roll. After a gradual climb was initiated, and at approximately 80 mph, the engine began to run rough and lose rpm. Unable to stay airborne, the pilot executed a forced landing to a rough/uneven field. Upon ground contact, the airplane cartwheeled, resulting in structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The aircraft's total takeoff weight was estimated to be 1,584 pounds, which was 234 pounds over the maximum takeoff weight of 1,350 pounds. Additionally, the calculated density altitude at the time was approximately 9,000 feet. Examination and teardown of the engine did not reveal any anomalies or defects.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/27/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1613
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City GRANTS
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87020
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 6520
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID GNT
Elevation of weather observation facility 6520
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 9000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1504
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 27 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1915
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N89V
NTSB Number FTW95LA365
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Funk, D.D. Aviation Co.
Aircraft Model B-85C
Aircraft Series Identifier B-85C
Aircraft Serial Number 288
Certified Max Gross Weight 1350
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THADIUS W. SHELLNUTT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2836 CALIFORNIA AVE
Aircraft Owner City CARMICHAEL
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95608
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
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GNT
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1610
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code INW
Destination City WINSLOW
Destination State AR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --