N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bowbells, North Dakota 58721
Thursday, June 22, 2006 17:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted rising terrain during an agricultural application flight and was subsequently destroyed during a post impact ground fire. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The pilot reported that he was spraying a pasture in a hilly area prior to the accident. He stated that as he turned toward the south to go to another field, he encountered a 500-foot high hill in his flight path. He noted that there were hills on both sides and antennas to the west of his position preventing a turn to avoid the rising terrain in front of him. He stated that the airplane was unable to clear the top of the hill and was subsequently destroyed during a post impact ground fire. The pilot commented that the airplane might have encountered a gust of wind as he attempted to clear the hill. He stated that there were no malfunctions or failures associated with the airplane prior to the accident. The pilot reported winds were from the northwest at 3 knots, gusting to 8 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance to the rising terrain while maneuvering during the agricultural application flight. Contirbuting factors were the low altitude operation and the rising terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/22/2006
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Bowbells
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58721
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 484858N
Event Location Longitude 1021473W
Event Location Airport N/A
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 8
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) 20411
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 23 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 3 2006 2:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-Fargo FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1263W
NTSB Number CHI06CA162
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Weatherly
Aircraft Model 201B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 617
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 Jun 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7580
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Palmer A. Brekhus
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Tolley
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 5B4
Departure City Bowbells
Departure State ND
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 735
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Maneuvering - aerial application
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 28 2006 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record BRAJO
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --