Pulliam Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
Saturday, April 16, 1983 15:22 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SPARK PLUGS LOADING UP BEFORE HE DEPARTED SACRAMENTO, CA ON A X-COUNTRY & THER MAGNETO (MAG) HAD BEEN OVERHAULED BEFORE HE DEPARTED. HE STATED THE ENG RAN WELL 'EXCEPT FOR BRIEF PLUG LOAD (ONE CYL)CLEARED BY LEANING MIXTURE.' EN ROUTE STOPS WERE MADE AT TEHACHAPI, CA & FLAGSTAFF, AZ FOR FUEL. THE PLT SAID THAT DURING TAKEOFF AT FLAGSTAFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AT APRX 100 FT AGL. HOWEVER, WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENG WAS MISSING ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL. ONE WITNESS, A CFI, STATED THAT FROM WHERE HE 1ST HEARD THE ENG, IT WAS MISSING STEADILY, BUT THE ACFTCONTINUED ON THE TAKEOFF & ROLLED APRX ANOTHER 1500 FT BEFORE THE PLT TOOK OFF WITH THE ENG STILL MISSING. AFTER TAKING OFF, THE ACFT SETTLED, HIT TREETOPS & CRASHED. THE R MAG WAS FOUND AT 3 DEG BEFORE-TOP-DEAD-CENTER (BTDC). HOWEVER, THERE WERE SCRAPE MARKS WHERE IT HAD ROTATED; THE RETAINING NUTS WERE SNUG, BUT NO TIGHT. ALSO, THE LEFT MAG WAS IN ITS PROPER POSITION TO FIRE AT 25 DEG BTDC. THE ARPT ELEVATION WAS 7012 FT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/16/1983
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1522
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City FLAGSTAFF
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86001
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PULLIAM
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FLG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 30
Airport Elevation 7011
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID FLG
Elevation of weather observation facility 7011
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 7300
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3274
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 23761
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 N4579J
NTSB Number LAX83FUJ13
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-30447
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 1982 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 67
Airframe Hours 4415
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EMMETT MCCAIN,RALPH D BEHYMER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5301 FERNWOOD WAY
Aircraft Owner City SACRAMENTO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95841
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBIN D. SEATON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7313 STOCKDALE ST
Operator City SACRAMENTO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95822
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 FLG
Departure City FLAGSTAFF
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1514
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ABQ
Destination City ALBUEQUERQUE
Destination State NM
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 3
Runway Length 6999
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --