Ft Gaines-Clay Co. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Gaines, Georgia 31751
Saturday, August 5, 1989 20:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE TO CALM AN UPSET CHILD WHO WAS ON HIS FIRST AIRPLANE RIDE. AFTER THE CHILD HAD BEEN CALMED THE AIRPLANE WAS REBOARDED AND A DEPARTURE ATTEMPTED FROM THE GRASS STRIP ON RUNWAY 19. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM THE WEST AT ONE KNOT. THE NEAREST WX REPORTING FACILITY, 40 NMI EAST, REPORTED THE WIND AS 240 DEGREES AT FIVE KNOTS. AFTER LIFT OFF THE AIRPLANE SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY, THEN LIFTED OFF AGAIN. AT THE SECOND TAKE OFF THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DRIFT RIGHT, DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, AND HIT A TREE WITH THE RIGHT WING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH TREES ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/5/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2035
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FORT GAINES
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31751
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FT GAINES-CLAY CO.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7J0
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 220
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2148 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID ABY
Elevation of weather observation facility 197
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1692
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 5 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40595
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N35131
NTSB Number ATL89LA191
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 177B
Aircraft Series Identifier 177B
Aircraft Serial Number 177-02226
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NCL, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1230
Aircraft Owner City OZARK
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36361
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 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 No
Departure Airport Code 71J
Departure City OZARK
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1900
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 19
Runway Length 2837
Runway Width 77
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --