Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Los Banos, California 93635
Thursday, March 11, 2004 18:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane veered off the runway and nosed over while attempting to takeoff in a westerly direction, during dusk. While on takeoff roll, the pilot's visibility was limited due to sun glare. He lost visual reference to the runway and veered off the pavement to the left. The airplane continued off the runway and encountered soft terrain. The left main landing gear sank, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment due to visual restrictions from the light condition, resulting in a nose over. Factors in the accident were the dusk light conditions and sun glare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/11/2004
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Los Banos
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93635
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 371000N
Event Location Longitude 1204100W
Event Location Airport Private Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source --
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 Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 15553
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 11 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1837
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2004 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FAT-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8930Q
NTSB Number LAX04CA154
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ayres
Aircraft Model S-2R
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2443R
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name T-Craft, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Chowchilla
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93610
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 --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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 Application
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Los Banos
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Los Banos
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 6 2004 1:53PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2640
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --