Punkin Center Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Punkin Center, Arizona 85541
Tuesady, July 22, 2003 17:55 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with a power line and trees during takeoff initial climb from the 1,000-foot-long dirt runway. The pilot reported that his airplane accelerated normally on runway 23. However, during the 40-degree quartering tailwind takeoff, the airplane did not gain altitude as rapidly as he had anticipated. No mechanical malfunction was reported. The wind was from 090 degrees, and its speed was about 5 knots with occasional 10-knot gusts. The ambient temperature was estimated at 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and the airstrip's elevation was 2,620 feet mean sea level. The Safety Board estimated that the density altitude was about 6,000 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and failure to attain adequate climb rate to ensure clearance from obstacles. The tailwind and high density altitude were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/22/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1755
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Punkin Center
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85541
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 335119N
Event Location Longitude 1111831W
Event Location Airport Punkin Center
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
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 210
Airport Elevation 2620
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID PAN
Elevation of weather observation facility 5157
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 40
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.7
Density Altitude (feet) 6000
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) 16744
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 22 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1940
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2004 11:17AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO Scottsdale, AZ

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N767RK
NTSB Number LAX03LA240
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 180C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 50735
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 May 27 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 877
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Michael L. Golder
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Tonto Basin
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85553
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Punkin Center
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1755
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FFZ
Destination City Mesa
Destination State AZ
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 Oct 6 2004 6:08PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 1000
Runway Width 65
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --