Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Benton, Missouri 63736
Saturday, April 4, 1998 12:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he started the airplane and moved it out onto the airstrip where it was to be loaded with fertilizer. After approximately two hours he attempted to restart the engine at which time it backfired and quit. He reported he waited 15 to 20 seconds, pumped the throttle three times and attempted to restart the engine. Smoke instantly started coming out of the exhaust stack. A ground loader got a fire extinguisher and fired it into the exhaust stack. The pilot stated he pulled the mixture back, opened the throttle and continued to crank the engine for three or four minutes hoping to suck the flames into the engine. He reported that after this time he was forced to leave the airplane due to the heavy smoke. The pilot reported the north winds blew the flames upward which ignited the top fuel tank. The airplane was destroyed by the fire.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

an engine fire for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/4/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City BENTON
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 63736
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE AIRSTRIP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
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 320
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 175
Weather Observation Facility ID CGI
Elevation of weather observation facility 342
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2600
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 137
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 6 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 834
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N48FS
NTSB Number CHI98LA114
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
Aircraft Model G-164A
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164A
Aircraft Serial Number 1660
Certified Max Gross Weight 5339
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 Aug 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 6964
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CECIL T. BEESON
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 3, BOX 230
Aircraft Owner City SIKESTON
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 63801
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 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
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Standing
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 --