Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wellfleet, Nebraska 69170
Friday, August 9, 1996 12:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While conducting aerial spraying over rolling terrain, the pilot experienced a violent nose down motion of the airplane, followed by the airplane going into a left wing down attitude. He recovered from the left wing down attitude, but experienced a right wing and nose down situation. The airplane struck the rolling terrain with the right wing, which subsequently resulted in extensive damage. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies or operational problems prior to impact. He believed that he may have encountered a windshear condition. About 21 miles west (at North Platte), the wind was from 180 degrees at 10 gusting 17 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain aircraft control, while maneuvering at low latitude. The hilly (rolling) terrain and unfavorable wind were related factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/9/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WELLFLEET
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69170
Event Date Year 1996
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1156 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 175
Weather Observation Facility ID LBF
Elevation of weather observation facility 2778
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 4253
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) 754
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 9 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1647
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6966K
NTSB Number CHI96LA287
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman-Schweizer
Aircraft Model G-164B
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164B
Aircraft Serial Number 530B
Certified Max Gross Weight 4500
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 Apr 10 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 387
Airframe Hours 6496
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WALLACE FLYING SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 128
Aircraft Owner City WALLACE
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 69169
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 RDOG
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 No
Departure Airport Code 64V
Departure City WALLACE
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 1150
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 64V
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 --