Cox Grantham Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grantham, North Carolina 27530
Sunday, February 10, 1991 14:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, BUT WOULD NOT CLIMB OR GAIN AIRSPEED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT WAS DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING. NO PRE-ACCIDENT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 175 POUNDS OVER ITS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT. THE FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT WAS GOLD IN COLOR AND SMELLED LIKE AUTO FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, AND HIS ATTEMPT TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT WHILE IT WAS LOADED OVER ITS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/10/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City GRANTHAM
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27530
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COX GRANTHAM
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6NCO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 210
Airport Elevation 162
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID GSB
Elevation of weather observation facility 926
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 56
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 54
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43065
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:20AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N77PB
NTSB Number ATL91LA053
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 Temco
Aircraft Model GC-1B
Aircraft Series Identifier GC-1B
Aircraft Serial Number 1390
Certified Max Gross Weight 1710
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 16 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 29
Airframe Hours 2220
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BENTON, BINFORD E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 3, BOX 210
Aircraft Owner City PIKEVILLE
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27863
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BENTON, BINFORD E.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ROUTE 3, BOX 210
Operator City PIKEVILLE
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27863
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 No
Departure Airport Code 6NCO
Departure City GRANTHAM
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone EST
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --