Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

St. Clair, Missouri 63077
Monday, August 14, 1989 7:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A PVT GRASS STRIP OF ABOUT 2000 FEET IN LENGTH, THE ACFT WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH A POSITIVE CLIMB, AND SETTLED BACK TO THE TERRAIN. THE FINAL DESTINATION WAS TO BE FAIRBANKS, ALASKA, FOR A HUNTING TRIP. THE ACFT WAS LOADED WITH BAGGAGE, HUNTING GEAR, FIREARMS, PILOT AND TWO ADULT PASSENGERS. THE ACFT HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO A TAIL WHEEL CONFIGURATION AND IN ADDITION WAS EQUIPPED WITH LARGE, OVERSIZE, 'TUNDRA TYPE' TIRES. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL OR FUEL SUPPLY MALFUNCTIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO ESTABLISH A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB DUE TO THE MISJUDGED WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/14/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 700
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ST. CLAIR
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 63077
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
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 550
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 652 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID SUS
Elevation of weather observation facility 461
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
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) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
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) --
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1250
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 14 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39498
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7136B
NTSB Number MKC89LA180
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-150
Aircraft Serial Number 224355
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 Jun 8 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 1976
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DOUGLAS, CECIL G
Aircraft Owner Street Address 425 S MAIN
Aircraft Owner City NIXA
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65714
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LANDING, JERRY D.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RR #4, BOX 188
Operator City SULLIVAN
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 63080
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 NONE
Departure City ST. CLAIR
Departure State MO
Departure Country
Departure Time 655
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City FAIRBANKS
Destination State AK
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 35
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --