Grinnell Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grinnell, Iowa 50112
Thursday, June 5, 2003 13:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane ground looped during landing. The pilot stated he received a report from another aircraft that the winds at his destination were variable and that he could choose a runway. The pilot reported the approach and touchdown were normal. The pilot noted he encountered a right rear-quartering gust. Winds 21 miles south-southwest of the accident site were recorded as 210 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots. The pilot stated the airplane swerved, ground looped, and subsequently nosed over.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadvertent ground loop. Factors contributing to the accident were the wind gusts and crosswind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/5/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Grinnell
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50112
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 414234N
Event Location Longitude 0924405W
Event Location Airport Grinnell Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GGI
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 1008
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1335 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 207
Weather Observation Facility ID PEA
Elevation of weather observation facility 885
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
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) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) 2251
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) 14199
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 5 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1650
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 FAA- Des Moines FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5667C
NTSB Number CHI03LA157
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 140A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15623
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 58.6
Airframe Hours 2633.9
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name William J Owen
Aircraft Owner Street Address 715 9th Ave.
Aircraft Owner City Grinnell
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50112
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 No
Departure Airport Code PEA
Departure City Pella
Departure State IA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code GGI
Destination City Grinnell
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 25 2003 10:59AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 5200
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --