Burlington Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Burlington, Wisconsin 53105
Saturday, August 31, 1991 8:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF WITH THE AIRPLANE AT LEAST 190 POUNDS OVER THE AIRPLANE'S GROSS LICENSED WEIGHT IN GUSTY CROSSWINDS. HE ESTIMATES HE REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF 100-200 FEET BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE AIRPLANE CLIMB ANY HIGHER. HE SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND ELECTED TO LAND IN A SOYBEAN FIELD. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AND AIRFRAME DISCLOSED NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL DEFECTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S EXCEEDING THE AIRPLANE'S LICENSED GROSS WEIGHT AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/31/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 840
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BURLINGTON
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53105
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BURLINGTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C52
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 0
Airport Elevation 780
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 850 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID MKE
Elevation of weather observation facility 723
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 19
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1900
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 1
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 787
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44762
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:38AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9514R
NTSB Number CHI91LA283
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20K
Aircraft Series Identifier M20K
Aircraft Serial Number 25-0484
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GILLESPIE, RICHARD W.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 25580 ARROWHEAD DR.
Operator City MUNDELEIN
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60060
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 840
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code NEW
Destination City NEW ORLEANS
Destination State LA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
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 29
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --