Edgeley Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edgeley, North Dakota 58433
Saturday, August 8, 1998 19:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The agricultural aircraft's certificated gross weight was 5,000 pounds. The pilot reported departing at 5,895 pounds. The temperature was 84 degrees F. with light and variable winds, and the pilot reported that the crash was a result of high density altitude. The pilot departed from a 2,485-foot asphalt runway to the west. He stated that 'Upon reaching the end of the runway, I proceeded to pull up. The a/c [aircraft] went into a 3pt attitude. I began to dump my load. The a/c flew in an uncontrolled manner for 100 yds then the right wing struck a gravel road sending me sideways into a cornfield for 300 ft then the a/c came to a stop.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain flying airspeed resulting in a stall/mush condition during the initial climb. Contributing factors were the high density altitude, high aircraft weight, and pilot's delayed jettison of the load, as well as the roadway and crop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/8/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1945
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City EDGELEY
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58433
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport EDGELEY MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 51D
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 1602
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1950 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 355
Weather Observation Facility ID JMS
Elevation of weather observation facility 1498
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 32
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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) 1958
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 8 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2106
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4443S
NTSB Number CHI98LA305
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 Air Tractor
Aircraft Model AT-301
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-301
Aircraft Serial Number 103
Certified Max Gross Weight 5000
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORTHLAND AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 322
Aircraft Owner City EDGELEY
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58433
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TOM KIEFER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 304 3RD AVE SE
Operator City EDGELEY
Operator State ND
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 58433
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 1945
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 2485
Runway Width 35
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --