Selma Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Selma, California 93662
Saturday, March 13, 2004 15:05 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with a berm during the takeoff initial climb. The pilots reported the airplane seemed to accelerate normally. When the airplane obtained an airspeed of 65 knots, the airplane became airborne but settled back onto the runway. The pilot continued the attempted takeoff, the aircraft accelerated to 70 knots and he rotated again, but the airplane never got out of ground effect. The pilot saw the berm at the end of the runway and tried to turn the airplane parallel to the berm. The airplane impacted the berm and flew into the air, coming to rest on the other side of the berm. The pilot reported no loss of power or any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The computed weight and balance for the accident flight indicated that the airplane exceeded the certificated maximum gross weight by 107 lbs. The computed center of gravity was 2.8 inches forward of the most forward allowable center of gravity.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which failed to assure adequate takeoff performance, and his failure to abort the takeoff. The aircraft inadequate weight and balance was a contributing factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/13/2004
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1505
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Selma
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93662
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 363453N
Event Location Longitude 1193930W
Event Location Airport SELMA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0Q4
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 308
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1456 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 345
Weather Observation Facility ID FAT
Elevation of weather observation facility 336
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
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) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1612
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) 18291
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 13 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1535
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO- FRESNO, CA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6175L
NTSB Number LAX04LA156
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 AMERICAN
Aircraft Model AA-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AA1-0375
Certified Max Gross Weight 1560
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 Aug 21 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15.9
Airframe Hours 2466.1
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Thomas H Holmes
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Selma
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93662
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 0Q4
Departure City SELMA
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1505
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 11 2005 5:20PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 2490
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --