Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Davenport, North Dakota 58021
Monday, August 29, 2005 15:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with a corn crop on takeoff. The pilot reported he was taking off to the northeast with a full chemical load when the accident occurred. He stated that the airplane became airborne when he was approximately halfway down the 2,640 foot long grass airstrip, but it didn't accelerate. He stated he "eased back on the stick but nothing happened." He stated he then pulled back on the stick in an attempt to clear the corn field at the end of the airstrip, but the airplane did not climb. The airplane collided with the eight to nine foot tall corn crop. Inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have prevented the airplane from gaining altitude.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot failed to gain suffient altitude during takeoff in order to clear the corn crop at the end of the runway. A factor associated with the accident was the corn crop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/29/2005
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Davenport
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58021
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 465514N
Event Location Longitude 0964857W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID FAR
Elevation of weather observation facility 902
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.9
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18760
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 29 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2005 6:27AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Fargo, ND FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3024U
NTSB Number CHI05CA246
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ayres
Aircraft Model S2R-G10
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number G10-108
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3472
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James F. Plath
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Davenport
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name James F. Plath
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Davenport
Operator State ND
Operator Country USA
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code PVT
Departure City Davenport
Departure State ND
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 4:53PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --