Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Larchwood, Iowa 51241
Thursday, February 6, 1997 18:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The weather reported at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, fifteen miles from the takeoff airport was IFR with freezing fog with 1/4 mile visibility and 100 feet vertical visibility, with the temperature at -8 degrees and the dew point at -8 degrees. A witness who lived at the departure airport reported she saw the aircraft start its takeoff roll. She reported that she could not believe the airplane was actually departing because of the dense fog. The airplane impacted the ground about one half mile east from the departure end of runway 18. The flight controls and engine exhibited continuity. All cylinders had compression. The propeller exhibited rotational scoring and twisting. The pilot did not have an instrument rating.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the noninstrument-rated pilot's takeoff into instrument meteorological conditions. The weather was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/6/1997
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LARCHWOOD
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 51241
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 2
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1756 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID FSD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1429
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 188
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 6 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2156
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:07PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N714EE
NTSB Number CHI97FA067
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number 15079113
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 Oct 21 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 1469
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BILLY J. FOREHAND
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 1577
Aircraft Owner City OZONA
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76943
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code D19
Destination City LUVERNE
Destination State MN
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 --