Williams Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Williams, California 95987
Monday, June 16, 2003 19:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane force landed in a rice field after a partial loss of engine power in the takeoff initial climb. The pilot was departing from a private gliderport on a pipeline patrol fight. During the initial climb out, at an altitude about 200 feet agl, the engine started to run very rough. The pilot attempted to return to the airport runway but realized he did not have sufficient altitude to do so. The airplane crash-landed in a swampy rice field located north of the departure end of the runway. During the accident sequence, the landing gear and both wings were torn off the airplane. Following recovery of the airplane, the engine was started and test run while it was still attached to the airframe. No malfunctions or failures were found with the engine or any related airframe system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the loss of engine power on takeoff for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Williams
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95987
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 390948N
Event Location Longitude 1220753W
Event Location Airport WILLIAMS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Q12
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport 340
Airport Elevation 68
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID KMYV
Elevation of weather observation facility 62
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.75
Density Altitude (feet) 2796
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16947
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 17 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1040
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP- FSDO- SACRAMENTO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2558Z
NTSB Number LAX03LA202
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 Bellanca
Aircraft Model 8GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 26278
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 20 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 76
Airframe Hours 5500
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PATROLINE AIR SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 395 S. Hwy 65
Aircraft Owner City Lincoln
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95648
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code Q12
Departure City Williams
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code VCB
Destination City VACAVILLE
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 1 2004 4:46PM
User who most recently changed record RICJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --