Farm Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sparta, Michigan 49345
Tuesady, August 30, 1988 19:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A TAKEOFF ATTEMPT FROM HIS PRIVATE STRIP THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THERE WAS A SLIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND FOR THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT. DUE TO THE 'DENSE', DAMP GRASS, WHICH WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES TALL ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS WAS INSUFFICIENT AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL AND STOP THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND CONTINUED THROUGH A SLIGHT BANK, WHERE THE NOSEWHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/30/1988
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SPARTA
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49345
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FARM STRIP
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 800
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1900 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID GRR
Elevation of weather observation facility 794
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 1664
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 30 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37836
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:02PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6049R
NTSB Number CHI88LA227
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 172G
Aircraft Series Identifier 172G
Aircraft Serial Number 172-53718
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 1573
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SHEPARD, RICHARD D
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12072 PHELPS
Aircraft Owner City SPARTA
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49345
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SHEPARD, RICHARD D.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 12072 PHELPS
Operator City SPARTA
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 49345
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 NONE
Departure City SPARTA
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1930
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 9
Runway Length 2350
Runway Width 95
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --