Yelland Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ely, Nevada 89015
Wednesday, August 16, 1989 11:50 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB ABOUT 50 TO 100 FT AGL, THEN IT BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE NOSE DIPPED & RAISED, THEN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY. CONTRABAND & UNCERTIFIED FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND ON BOARD THE PLANE. IT WAS ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN LOADED TO 2927 LBS (377 LBS OVER ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT). DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 9600 FT. THE AIRPLANE'S LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS DATED 5/16/86.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED TO REMAIN AIRBORNE AFTER LIFT-OFF, AND AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT WITH EXCESSIVE GROSS WEIGHT AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/16/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1150
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City ELY
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89015
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 YELLAND FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ELY
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 6255
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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) 45
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 9600
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1807
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 16 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1615
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40864
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8796H
NTSB Number SEA89LA151
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 NAVION
Aircraft Model A
Aircraft Series Identifier A
Aircraft Serial Number NAV-4-796
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROY GARRISON
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 734
Aircraft Owner City PLACERVILLE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95643
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GJT
Destination City GRAND JUNCTION
Destination State CO
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 18
Runway Length 5998
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --