Robertson's Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Iowa, Louisiana 70647
Friday, May 29, 1998 14:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Before takeoff, the airplane was loaded with 1,600 pounds of fertilizer to be applied on local rice fields. The pilot initiated a takeoff on a 2,300 foot grass airstrip. He stated that during the takeoff roll to the north, with a 5 to 8 knot crosswind from the west, the engine had a partial loss of power, and 'the tailwheel would not come up.' He released the load from the 300 gallon hopper, and the airplane became airborne. The main landing gear impacted the top of trees and subsequently impacted a levee. The pilot managed to continue flying, and proceeded to a 3,800 turf airstrip where emergency equipment was standing by. During the emergency landing, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. No reason was found for the reported loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

partial loss of engine power during takeoff for undetermined reason(s). The obstructions (trees & dirt bank) were related factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/29/1998
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City IOWA
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70647
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ROBERTSON'S STRIP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 165
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID CWF
Elevation of weather observation facility 165
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2650
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) 145
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 29 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1725
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:21AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8629H
NTSB Number FTW98LA249
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 Grumman
Aircraft Model G-164A
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164A
Aircraft Serial Number 1438
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 6 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 133
Airframe Hours 9024
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ZOREN O'BRIEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. DRAWER 607
Aircraft Owner City IOWA
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70647
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 KGRG
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 LA71
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Emergency landing
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 2300
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --