Marshalltown Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marshalltown, Iowa 50158
Saturday, August 6, 2005 19:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The agricultural spray airplane was destroyed by impact with the terrain and post impact fire during a forced landing after a loss of power during takeoff from an asphalt runway. The pilot reported that he completed the sixth spray load of the day and he landed to refuel and take on chemicals. He topped off the fuel tanks and loaded about 115 gallons of pesticide water mix. He reported that the airplane was functioning normally when he departed. At approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl) at the departure end of the runway, the engine began to lose power. He did not have enough power or altitude to perform a 180-degree turn back to the airport, nor was he in a position to make it to a road for an emergency landing. He dumped the load and landed in a corn field just west of the airport. After the airplane came to a rest, it caught fire and was consumed. The pilot was able to exit the airplane and received minor injuries. A witness reported that he observed the airplane during the takeoff, and he heard the airplane's engine sputtering and backfiring as it banked to the west. The inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the engine and its accessories, but impact and post impact fire damage precluded the identification of any mechanical anomalies that may have been present prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A factor was the corn crop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/6/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Marshalltown
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50158
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 420620N
Event Location Longitude 0925404W
Event Location Airport Marshalltown Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MIW
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 --
Airport Elevation 974
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID MIW
Elevation of weather observation facility 974
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
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) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.07
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) 19956
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 6 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 31 2006 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-Des Moines FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N636U
NTSB Number CHI05LA214
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman
Aircraft Model G-164
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 372
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 7497
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dusty's Spraying Service
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 647
Aircraft Owner City Casselton
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58102
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country USA
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 MIW
Departure City Marshalltown
Departure State IA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Marshalltown
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 11 2006 9:38AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 5006
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --