Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Columbus, Mississippi 39701
Friday, March 14, 2008 18:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The responding FAA inspector stated that the accident flight was a test flight of a newly installed GPS system. The pilot told the inspector, that the airplane was in a steep bank to the right, maneuvering for another pass, when he encountered a slight buffet. He applied flaps and the buffet went away. As he continued in his steep bank turn to the right, he encountered another buffet that was more pronounced. He added additional flaps and the buffet went away. He encountered a gust of wind that started rolling him further to the right. He applied full left aileron and full left rudder pedal. He knew he was going to crash and was trying to slow the airplane down before the impact. The left wing impacted the ground first followed by the engine, separating. The airplane cart wheeled before coming to a stop upright. The FAA inspector stated that mechanical discrepancies were not reported nor discovered. The airplane owner felt the pilot turned tighter than normal, he observed the maneuver before the accident. The wind at the Golden Triangle Airport (GTR), Columbus, Mississippi, at the time of the accident were from 270 degrees at 4 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed while maneuvering.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Columbus
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39701
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332700N
Event Location Longitude 0883500W
Event Location Airport --
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 10
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID KGTR
Elevation of weather observation facility 200
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.67
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 Docket Number (internal use) 23654
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date Mar 14 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 28 2008 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA Jackson FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7302C
NTSB Number MIA08CA078
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Air Tractor
Aircraft Model AT-301
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AT-301-0592
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Frost Flying Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Lowry Incorporated
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Columbus
Operator State MS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code ZPWG
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) Flight Test
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KGTR
Departure City Columbus
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1825
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 18 2008 7:22PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --