Richvale Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Richvale, California 95974
Saturday, May 5, 1990 19:16 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF A FULLY LOADED AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM THE 2200 FOOT LONG RUNWAY 34 AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN ABOUT 3/4 DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTH AT 10 KNOTS AND WAS AT FULL ENGINE POWER WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE PILOT REPORTED EXPERIENCING A 'DEAD SPOT' WHERE THE WIND WAS BLOCKED BY TREES AND EQUIPMENT. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB DURING TAKEOFF RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING INTO TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/5/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1916
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City RICHVALE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95974
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RICHVALE
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 100
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1858 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID RBL
Elevation of weather observation facility 100
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1130
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 14 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6689K
NTSB Number LAX90DVG08
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-164-B
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164-B
Aircraft Serial Number 10
Certified Max Gross Weight 6300
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 Jan 5 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 398
Airframe Hours 7371
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AVAG, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 156
Aircraft Owner City RICHVALE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95974
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 NIEG
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
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 10 2001 2:56PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --