Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newdale, Idaho 83436
Thursday, July 17, 1997 5:50 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After takeoff, the pilot was unable to climb, and the airplane crashed in a field just beyond the runway about 1 minute after becoming airborne. A post-accident examination of the aircraft's engine revealed no mechanical discrepancies. The FAA inspector assigned to the accident, who talked to the pilot, reported that the pilot took off with full fuel and a full hopper load; a gross weight estimate based on data obtained from the FAA, the pilot, and the aircraft manufacturer indicated that the airplane was approximately 1,830 pounds over its maximum certificated gross weight of 4,000 pounds (per the aircraft's FAA type certificate data sheet), and 330 pounds over the maximum takeoff gross weight for restricted-category operations, at takeoff. Density altitude at Idaho Falls, 40 nautical miles from and about 1,500 feet elevation below the accident area, was computed to be approximately 5,800 feet at the time, based on the hourly observation data being reported at the time.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight/planning preparation which resulted in the aircraft exceeding the maximum gross weight, and inability to climb. A factor was high density altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/17/1997
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 550
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City NEWDALE
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83436
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 7
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 547 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 222
Weather Observation Facility ID IDA
Elevation of weather observation facility 4741
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 285
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 5800
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) 1579
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 17 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9022H
NTSB Number SEA97LA169
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 Weatherly
Aircraft Model 620B
Aircraft Series Identifier 620B
Aircraft Serial Number 1626
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
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 May 23 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 147
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RHL FINANCIAL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2325-A RENAISSANCE DR.
Aircraft Owner City LAS VEGAS
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89119
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name OWEN J. NEELEY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 16695 E. 5000 N.
Operator City NEWDALE
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83436
Operator Code HKHG
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
Departure City
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 549
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 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 --