Harris Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Coalinga, California 93210
Sunday, March 30, 2003 18:16 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff initial climb the airplane collided with terrain at the departure end of the runway. The pilot set 10 degrees of flaps for takeoff from the 2,820-foot runway. He rotated at 60 mph and once the airplane was airborne he noticed that the "aircraft was slow to climb." He leveled the nose, and gradually raised the flaps. The airplane settled, collided with the ground, and came to rest just past the end of the runway in an onion field. The pilot said the aural stall warning was operating throughout the attempted climb out. The Beechcraft Musketeer Sport III, Model 19A, Owner's Manual states that there are 3 flap settings; 15 degrees, 25 degrees, and 35 degrees. It states the following takeoff procedure, "After the airplane breaks ground, lower the nose slightly and let the airplane accelerate to the desired climb speed." Additionally, takeoff speed for 15 degrees of flaps is 60 mph, and 75 mph for no flaps. No anomalies were found during a post accident test run of the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to obtain/maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall/mush.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/30/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1816
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Coalinga
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93210
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 361453N
Event Location Longitude 1201416W
Event Location Airport Harris Ranch
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3O8
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Abbreviated
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1855 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID KFAT
Elevation of weather observation facility 336
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.14
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16120
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 30 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1910
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 1 2004 7:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO-Fresno

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7610R
NTSB Number LAX03LA120
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model 19A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number MB421
Certified Max Gross Weight 2250
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 24 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 2970
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Francis Cummings
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City San Fransisco
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94131
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 None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 3O8
Departure City Coalinga
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1816
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OAK
Destination City Oakland
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jun 29 2004 5:59PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 2820
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --