Gadabout-Gaddis Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bingham, Maine 04920
Sunday, October 1, 1989 15:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLT WITH THE PLT, 2 ADULT PAX & 3 CHILDREN AGES 5 THRU 11. AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURNOUT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT REALIZED HE COULD NOT OUTCLIMB THE TERRAIN, SO HE SHUT EVERYTHING OFF AND STALLED INTO THE TREES. WHEN THE PILOT MADE HIS LEFT TURNOUT, THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATING ON THE DOWNWIND SIDE OF A RIDGE WITH 10-15 KT WINDS. THE AIRPLANE'S WEIGHT & BALANCE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING TO ASSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS CAPABLE OF OUTCLIMBING THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN UNDER THE EXISTING WIND AND AIRPLANE WEIGHT CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN AN INTENTIONAL STALL INTO THE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE TERRAIN AND WIND CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/1/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BINGHAM
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04920
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 GADABOUT-GADDIS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ME08
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 4
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 6
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1782
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 1 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1242
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40839
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 N89219
NTSB Number NYC90LA001
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier 172P
Aircraft Serial Number 17276000
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Jun 21 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2895
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TELEFORD AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address AIRPORT ROAD
Aircraft Owner City WATERVILLE
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04901
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 FTSA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Aug 22 2001 3:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --