Somerset Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sommerset, Louisiana 71357
Wednesday, July 25, 1990 14:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE SOD STRIP THE AIRPLANE FLEW INTO A THREE FOOT TALL BEAN FIELD AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE MAIN WHEELS CONTACTED THE CROPS CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SLIDE TO A STOP ON ITS SIDE. POST IMPACT FIRE ERUPTED VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM THE WRECKAGE, BUT SUCCUMBED TO BURN INJURIES ONE WEEK AFTER THE ACCIDENT. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 1,600 FEET.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE ABOVE CROPS AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/1990
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SOMMERSET
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71357
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SOMERSET
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 84
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1600
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 736
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 25 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1545
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41774
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7854
NTSB Number FTW90DRD14
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 None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GRUMMAN
Aircraft Model G-164A
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164A
Aircraft Serial Number 802
Certified Max Gross Weight 4500
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 13 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours 7728
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FARM AIR SERVICE, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 16 CROTHERS DR.
Aircraft Owner City TALLULAH
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 71282
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FARM AIR SERVICE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 16
Operator City TALLULAH
Operator State LA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 71282
Operator Code SJWG
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 NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
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 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 2200
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --