Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Enterprise, Alabama 36330
Sunday, September 19, 1999 9:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he departed Enterprise Airport with a full load of chemicals for aerial application to a nearby cotton field. Shortly after takeoff, the engine began to surge. He adjusted the propeller lever control to the 'high' position and turned the fuel boost pump 'on.' He elected to return to the airport and while on short final he observed another airplane pass beneath him. His airplane, although surging, had been producing sufficient power therefore, he executed a left 360 degree turn for spacing. When the turn was nearly complete, the engine lost all power and he maneuvered for an open field. The airplane collided with a tree and then the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the wings, empennage, and fuselage were destroyed almost beyond recognition. The only recognizable portion of the engine was the power section and the entire turbine section was destroyed. A fuel sample of the Jet-A fuel used in the airplane showed no visible evidence of contamination. The airplane and engine were consumed by fire.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the in-flight collision with a tree during the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/19/1999
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 920
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ENTERPRISE
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36330
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 9
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 855 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 275
Weather Observation Facility ID OZR
Elevation of weather observation facility 298
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1210
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 521
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 19 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1850
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6736Q
NTSB Number ATL99LA133
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman-Schweizer
Aircraft Model G-164B
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164B
Aircraft Serial Number 250B
Certified Max Gross Weight 6075
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 Jan 12 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 193
Airframe Hours 4910
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRANK E. ALBRIGHT
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 2 BOX 187
Aircraft Owner City ELBA
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36323
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 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 EDN
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 910
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Approach
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 --