Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sullivan, Illinois 61951
Saturday, March 17, 1990 15:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED REFUELING AT HIS FATHER'S FARM AND TOOK OFF TO THE WEST FROM A DIRT FIELD. AT ABOUT 25 FT AGL, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN AND REMAINED IN A BANK UNTIL IT STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE RIGHT WINGTIP. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED AS IT CARTWHEELED TO REST. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURY AND HAD NO RECALL OF THE FINAL MANEUVERS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE DURING A TURN AT LOW ALTITUDE, RESULTING IN GROUND COLLISION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE PILOT'S INJURY WAS HIS FAILURE TO USE THE INSTALLED SHOULDER HARNESS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City SULLIVAN
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61951
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 3
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1445 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 136
Weather Observation Facility ID DEC
Elevation of weather observation facility 682
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 24
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 481
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 17 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41415
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6340Z
NTSB Number CHI90DEV02
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-25-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-25-150
Aircraft Serial Number 25-523
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Jun 9 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 3285
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT LAMAR GOSS
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 93121
Aircraft Owner City LUBBOCK
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79493
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 --
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 1500
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code IOW
Destination City IOWA CITY
Destination State IA
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --