Morningstar Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Des Moines, Iowa 50310
Saturday, February 25, 1984 10:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF THE FLT WAS FOR THE PLT TO EXPERIENCE A TAKEOFF AT MAX GROSS WT. HE PUT A 150 LB BAG OF CEMENT IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT TO SIMULATE THE WT OF A PASSENGER, THEN INITIATED A TAKEOFF FROM A SOD RWY THAT WAS SOFT AFTER A RECENT THAW, USING 15 DEG OF FLAPS. THE PLT SAID THAT HE LIFTED OFF PREMATURELY & THE ACFT SETTLED BACK TO THE RWY & WAS SLOWED BY THE SOFT FIELD CONDITIONS. ALSO, HE SAID HE WAITED TOO LONG TO ABORT & THE ACFT WENT OFF THE END OF THE RWY & THRU A FENCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/25/1984
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City DES MOINES
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50310
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MORNINGSTAR
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Y76
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 805
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 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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
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) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 4
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 23497
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 N53BL
NTSB Number MKC84LA090
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 ROBERT H. LOW
Aircraft Model MUSTANG II
Aircraft Series Identifier MUSTANG II
Aircraft Serial Number 589
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 28 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 28
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT H. LOW
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3950 54TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City DES MOINES
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50310
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 1015
Departure Time Zone CST
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 Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 2893
Runway Width 170
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --