Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744
Friday, February 28, 2003 14:00

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted trees during initial climb from a private grass airstrip. The pilot stated he took off and remained in ground effect. The airplane then stalled into an area of trees located at the departure end of the runway. The runway was 1,500 feet in length and had an upslope in the takeoff direction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to obtain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall. The short, soft, takeoff area, and the trees were contributing factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/28/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone --
Event City Grand Rapids
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55744
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Private
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.66
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14184
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 22 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1143
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Minneapolis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N84868
NTSB Number CHI03LA112
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aeronca
Aircraft Model 7AC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-3587
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 15 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 5100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name David Hutchins
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1940 S Pokegama Ave
Aircraft Owner City Grand Rapids
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55744
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Ronald A. Powers
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2603 Audrey Lane
Operator City Grand Rapids
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 55744
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 No
Departure Airport Code PVT
Departure City Grand Rapids
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PVT
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 Aug 25 2003 11:14AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 05
Runway Length 1500
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --