Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Welsh, Louisiana 70591
Wednesday, August 21, 1985 10:05 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF APRX 20 FT AGL, THE ACFT ROLLED 20 TO 25 DEGS TO THE RIGHT. AFTER CORRECTING FOR THE ROLL, THE PLT STATED, THE ACFT SETTLED TO GROUND IMPACT. WITNESSES REPORTED THE GRASS AIRSTRIP USED FOR TAKEOFF CONTAINED 7 TO 8 INCH HIGH GRASS AND IT WAS WET FROM A 2 INCH RAINFALL ON THE PREVIOUS DAY. A SLIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND WAS ALSO REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN PRESENT AT THE TIME.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/21/1985
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1005
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WELSH
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70591
Event Date Year 1985
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
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 --
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1440
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2277
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 21 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1150
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29660
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N480AG
NTSB Number FTW85FRD03
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 ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Model PREDATOR 480
Aircraft Series Identifier PREDATOR 4
Aircraft Serial Number X-1
Certified Max Gross Weight 7100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Aug 9 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 175
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AIRCRAFT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11755 GLENDALE AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City HANFORD
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93230
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1005
Departure Time Zone CDI
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 Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 10 2002 3:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --