Noble Dusters Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Merced, California 95340
Sunday, February 3, 1991 15:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE STRUCK AN AUTOMOBILE ON DEPARTURE FROM A PRIVATE DUSTER STRIP. A FARM WORKER AND HIS SON, WHO WERE SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, DROVE ONTO THE STRIP AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEPARTING WITH A LOAD OF CHEMICALS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMMITTED TO FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED PREMATURELY AND STRUCK THE TOP OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THE AIRCRAFT LOST THE RIGHT SPRAY BOOM, ELEVATOR AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A DISORIENTED AND INTOXICATED AUTOMOBILE DRIVER ENTERING THE RUNWAY IN FRONT OF THE DEPARTING AIRCRAFT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/3/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City MERCED
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95340
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 NOBLE DUSTERS
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 155
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
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 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) 265
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43360
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:22AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N969X
NTSB Number LAX91LA088
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 483
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DENNIS NOBLE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2939 S. HIGHWAY 59
Aircraft Owner City MERCED
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95340
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DENNIS NOBLE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2939 S. HIGHWAY 59
Operator City MERCED
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95340
Operator Code RPJG
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 1500
Departure Time Zone PST
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 26
Runway Length 2700
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --