Elkader Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elkader, Iowa 52043
Tuesady, October 24, 1989 14:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIED TO THE FAR END OF THE 1860 FT RWY, AND THE PIC ADDED FULL POWER AND BEGAN A TAKEOFF ROLL TO THE SOUTH. AN EYEWITNESS STATED THE ACFT GAINED SPEED AND ROSE FROM THE GROUND, THEN HE TURNED HIS ATTENTION AWAY FM THE ACFT. THE WITNESS THEN HEARD THE AIRCRAFT STRIKE A RWY END MARKER CONSISTING OF 3 PALETTES WIRED IN A PYRAMIND. THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE HIGH AND ENTERED A STEEP BANK TO THE LEFT AS THOUGH RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT. THE ACFT CRASHED SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS EAST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE ELEVATOR CONTROL SURFACE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE DURING THE TAKEOFF, THEREBY RESTRICTING ITS MOVEMENT, AND ULTIMATELY, AIRCRAFT CONTROL. NO PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED WITH EITHER THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE OR FLIGHT CONTROLS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE RUNWAY MARKER AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/24/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1410
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ELKADER
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 52043
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ELKADER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C22
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 932
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID DBQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1076
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 41
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2900
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2378
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 24 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43228
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N36163
NTSB Number MKC90FA017
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7816617
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 Sep 1 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 79
Airframe Hours 4020
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DOUGLAS A. NUTT
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 81
Aircraft Owner City ARMSTRONG
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50514
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PRITTS AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address R.R. 1 MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Operator City ESTERVILLE
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 51334
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code C22
Departure City ELKADER
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1410
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SPW
Destination City SPENCER
Destination State IA
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 17
Runway Length 1760
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --