Atlantic Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlantic, Iowa 50022
Monday, September 3, 2001 9:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said he took off from runway 12 (3,911 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) at Atlantic, Iowa, and proceeded south. The pilot said during the takeoff, the airplane's engine attained 2,100 rpm and 34 inches of manifold pressure. The pilot said when the airplane lifted off, his manifold pressure was 30 inches. The pilot said it went down to 28 inches. The pilot said he elected to land in a corn field. He was unable to clear trees that were ahead of him. The pilot said that after the airplane stopped he noticed a fire coming from the left side of the airplane at the cowling. The pilot said he got out of the airplane and walked away. Then a fireball occurred. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during the takeoff and initial climb, and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing. Factors relating to this accident were the corn crop and the low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/3/2001
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Atlantic
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50022
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Atlantic Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AIO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 1182
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 925 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID AIO
Elevation of weather observation facility 1182
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) 2503
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11807
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 3 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1228
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 4 2002 9:52AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office DES MOINES, IOWA FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6598K
NTSB Number CHI01LA300
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman-Schweizer
Aircraft Model G-164B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 318
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 May 2 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7534
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name R. E. Pettis
Aircraft Owner Street Address 59706 Highland Road
Aircraft Owner City Atlantic
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50022
Operator is an individual? No
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 --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code AIO
Departure City Atlantic
Departure State IA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code AIO
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 15 2002 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 3911
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --