Carrera Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mead, Colorado 80542
Wednesday, August 11, 1999 15:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot performed an aerial spray of a field with insecticides and was returning for landing at the privately-owned airstrip. While 100 ft. agl, the pilot reported a loss of engine power and the aircraft landed in a field of 6-foot tall corn stalks 150 yards short of the runway. Following the accident, the aircraft's engine was disassembled and examined, then reassembled and run in a test cell. No abnormalities or discrepancies were found that would have interfered with normal engine operation. An examination of the aircraft's propeller blades revealed that each of the propeller blades were bent in the reverse direction. The power lever in the aircraft is designed with a beta mode in which the pilot can manually pull the throttle rearward with corresponding negative blade angles. It takes between 3 to 6 seconds for the engine to respond to increased engine power input. The Airplane Flight Manual for the aircraft states that during approach to landing, the pilot is instructed to adjust the power lever to provide the required rate of descent, to 'not move [the] power lever below the idle stop position,' and to verify that the beta light is out.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to follow proper approach to landing procedures as outlined in the Airplane Flight Manual. A factor was the 6-foot tall corn stalks.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/11/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MEAD
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80542
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport CARRERA AIRPARK AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 93CO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4965
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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) 1173
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 12 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1356
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N402RE
NTSB Number DEN99LA149
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 Air Tractor
Aircraft Model AT-402A
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-402A
Aircraft Serial Number 402A-1027
Certified Max Gross Weight 8600
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 17 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 247
Airframe Hours 769
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RAY EDMISTON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5112 WELD COUNTY ROAD 32
Aircraft Owner City LONGMONT
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80504
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 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 CARRERA AIRPARK
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 8
Runway Length 2900
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --