Humboldt Municipal Apt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Humboldt, Iowa 50548
Sunday, October 5, 1997 15:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

In a written statement, the pilot said that he completed a run-up and checked the flight controls prior to takeoff from runway 30 (3400'x 60'.) The airplane lifted off after a ground roll of approximately 2000'. The pilot then stated that his flight controls didn't seem to be working. Shortly thereafter, the airplane banked to the right and pitched down, causing the right wing and nose to contact the runway. The airplane then slid onto the grass where it struck a runway marker light, coming to rest facing the opposite direction of intended travel. The pilot stated that it 'was a ground effect stall

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the failure of the pilot-in-command to attain airspeed and maintain control of the aircraft, resulting in a stall/mush.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/5/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City HUMBOLDT
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50548
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HUMBOLDT MUNICIPAL APT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0K7
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 1110
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1514 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID FOD
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 3106
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) 1597
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 5 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1718
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N12121
NTSB Number CHI98LA015
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name REED-MADSEN
Aircraft Model TAYLOR BIRD
Aircraft Series Identifier TAYLOR BIR
Aircraft Serial Number 09
Certified Max Gross Weight 1250
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Sep 10 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD HENRY MADSEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2017 PARKER DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City FORT DODGE
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50501
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 0K7
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 0K7
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 30
Runway Length 3400
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --