Quincy Gansner Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Quincy, California 95971
Monday, July 5, 1999 15:10 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airport is in mountainous terrain at 3,415 feet msl; the density altitude was about 5,841 feet msl. High terrain and obstacles were immediately off the departure end of runway 24. The pilot questioned a resident pilot examiner about the proper takeoff procedure. Runway 06 was recommended for the departure due to rising terrain off runway 24; however, a tailwind of 7 to 10 mph existed for runway 06. The FAA Airport/Facility Directory also recommends runway 06 for departure due to terrain. The pilot said that using the POH he calculated a total required ground roll of 2,100 feet. The pilot stated that during the run-up he leaned for best power and set the flaps to 10 degrees. He taxied into position and applied full power with brakes on; the rpm was normal, and the engine sounded good. After passing the departure end of the runway, about 60 feet agl, the positive climb rate of just over 200 fpm turned into a negative climb rate. The pilot stated that he had flown into a downdraft situation and there was nothing he could do but keep the wings level and maintain airspeed as the airplane settled into the ground. At no time did the stall warning sound. The pilot examiner witnessed the accident and said the airplane used most of the 4,100-foot-long runway before rotating. About 100 feet agl, the witness saw the nose pitch up just before the airplane began descending. Subsequently, the airplane rolled left and slightly nose down, colliding with terrain.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed for the existing wind conditions, and, his failure to abort the takeoff when it became apparent that the aircraft performance was not as anticipated. Factors in the accident were the tailwind and high density altitude conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/1999
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1510
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City QUINCY
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95971
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport QUINCY GANSNER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 201
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3415
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID RBL
Elevation of weather observation facility 349
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 61
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 5841
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 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1818
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 5 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1645
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2001 8:55AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2175Q
NTSB Number LAX99LA243
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 177RG
Aircraft Series Identifier 177RG
Aircraft Serial Number 17700575
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Sep 13 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 77
Airframe Hours 2916
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DUANE LEWIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 260 CALDECOTT LN # 324
Aircraft Owner City OAKLAND
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94618
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES D. KEMP
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1511 ALBANY TERRACE
Operator City ALBANY
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94706
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 201
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1510
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CCR
Destination City CONCORD
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2001 8:55AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 4100
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --