Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

La Coste, Texas 78039
Saturday, May 20, 1989 15:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE RESTRICTED CATEGORY AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT WAS DEPARTING FROM A DIRT RUNWAY AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED INTO A CORN FIELD AFTER REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF TEN FEET. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND SPILLED THE LOAD OF ETHYL PARATHION, A TOXIC LIQUID CHEMICAL. THERE WAS NO MECHNICAL FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT FOUND DURING THE ON SITE INSPECTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED FOR FLIGHT AT DEPARTURE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/20/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City LA COSTE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78039
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
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 1500 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 275
Weather Observation Facility ID HDO
Elevation of weather observation facility 927
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 668
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 22 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40042
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:40PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N731ST
NTSB Number FTW89DRG07
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model A188B
Aircraft Series Identifier A188B
Aircraft Serial Number 18803125T
Certified Max Gross Weight 4200
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 Mar 4 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 130
Airframe Hours 4611
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TORKELSON, CHARLES A
Aircraft Owner Street Address BANDERA STAR RT BOX 103
Aircraft Owner City HONDO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78861
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES A. TORKELSON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3203 NORTHRIDGE
Operator City SAN ANTONIO
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 78209
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 NONE
Departure City LA COSTE
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1529
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 Landing
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 2150
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --