Gila Bend Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gila Bend, Arizona 85337
Monday, October 28, 1985 16:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER SPRAYING A FIELD AND WHILE ENROUTE TO THE LANDING SITE, THE ACFT ENGINE BACKFIRED FOLLOWED BY A RAPID LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT NEGOTIATED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A PRIVATE DIRT ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE AIRCRAFT LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE CAUSING THE ACFT TO FLIP OVER ONTO ITS BACK. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF FAILURE. THE CARBURETOR SCREEN, BOWL AND THE MAIN FUEL LINES WERE FREE OF ANY CONTAMINATES. THE GASCOLATOR CONTAINED A LARGE AMOUNT OF MUDDY WATER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/28/1985
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GILA BEND
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85337
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GILA BEND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GBN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 25
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID E63
Elevation of weather observation facility 778
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
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) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2349
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 29 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29728
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 N8487K
NTSB Number LAX86LA029
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schweizer
Aircraft Model G-164B
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164B
Aircraft Serial Number 691B
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 3 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 148
Airframe Hours 1194
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name R. O. BOWLES FLYING SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 1 P.O. BOX 124-B
Aircraft Owner City LIVE OAK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95953
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PIERCE AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 607
Operator City BUCKEYE
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85326
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City YUMA
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone MST
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --