Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eloy, Arizona 85231
Monday, July 8, 1991 22:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST DEPARTED FROM THE AIRSTRIP FOR A NIGHT SPRAY RUN. DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB, THE PILOT SAID HE SENSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT PRODUCING ADEQUATE POWER. THE PILOT ALIGNED THE AIRCRAFT FOR A POSSIBLE LANDING IN AN OPEN AREA WHILE HE ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE POWER PROBLEM. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE RUNWAY. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A DARK NIGHT WITH NO MOON. THE ENGINE AND AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS WERE EXAMINED BY THE FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS. IN THEIR VERBAL REPORT OF THE EXAMINATION, NO AIRCRAFT SYSTEM ABNORMALITIES WERE FOUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN THE TERRAIN CLEARANCE OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A POTENTIAL EMERGENCY LANDING ON A MOONLESS DARK NIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/8/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2200
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City ELOY
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85231
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
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 Night/Dark
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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) 490
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44958
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:32AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6633K
NTSB Number LAX91LA301
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-164B
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164B
Aircraft Serial Number 400B
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 Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AL DON DUSTING SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 474
Aircraft Owner City ELOY
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85231
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AL DON DUSTING SERVICE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 474
Operator City ELOY
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85231
Operator Code ZCGC
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 No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City ELOY
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 2200
Departure Time Zone MST
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --