Gilbert Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Winter Haven, Florida 33880
Sunday, February 13, 1983 14:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A DITCH OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY AND BURST INTO FLAMES DURING TAKEOFF. WITNESSES SAID THE ACFT DID NOT SOUND LIKE IT WAS DEVELOPING NORMAL RPM FOR TAKEOFF. ONE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINES SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE STILL IN GROUND IDLE POSITION. THE SURVIVING PASSENGER SAID THEY DIDN'T GET ENOUGH SPEED TO TAKEOFF BUT HE DID NOT SUSPECT ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS. ANOTHER GROUND WITNESS SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE PROPELLERS WERE IN VERY HIGH OR CRUISE PITCH. AFTER THE ACCIDENT BOTH PROPELLERS WERE AT OR NEAR THE FEATHER POSITION. TOXICOLOGY STUDIES ON THE PILOT SHOWED HIS BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 0.22%. HE ALSO HAD CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/13/1983
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WINTER HAVEN
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33880
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GILBERT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GIF
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 146
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID LAL
Elevation of weather observation facility 142
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1376
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21670
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N81416
NTSB Number MIA83FA074
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Rockwell
Aircraft Model 690A
Aircraft Series Identifier 690A
Aircraft Serial Number 11306
Certified Max Gross Weight 10250
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3400
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALLEN N. TRASK
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 3147
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28406
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES D. HOWELL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1490 S.W. 275 STREET
Operator City NARANJA LAKES
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33032
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 1145
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MACA
Destination City ARUBA,N.ANTILLE
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 4
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --