Schweizer G-164B N7502A

Summary

On 21 July 2010 at about 13:20 local time, a Schweizer G-164B registered N7502A, operated by Blue Mountain Aviation, was involved in an accident near Prescott, Washington, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 July 2010 at 13:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Prescott, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Dozier Airstrip

Coordinates

46.3083, -118.3083

Aircraft

Schweizer G-164B

Registration

N7502A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Blue Mountain Aviation

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prescott → Prescott

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10LA365

Nobody was injured.

The airplane’s inability to maintain a positive rate of climb after takeoff for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delayed reaction to initiate an emergency release of the spray mixture.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he flew into a private airstrip and encountered no problems with the airframe or engine. He loaded 375 gallons of spray mixture and reported that there was no indication of a problem until after liftoff, when the airplane settled back onto the airstrip, although the engine did not lose power. The pilot verified the power readings and determined that there was insufficient runway remaining to abort the takeoff. The airplane lifted off again and crossed a gravel road that was perpendicular to the runway before settling into a fallow field that was across the road. The pilot completed an emergency release of the spray mixture but was unsuccessful in getting airborne prior to colliding with an electric fence. After hitting the fence, he aborted the takeoff. The pilot reported that the airfield was flat, the wind was calm, and the temperature was cool. The airplane was operating below maximum gross weight during the takeoff, and the pilot’s reported instrument and visual perceptions were the same as many other takeoffs that he had made from this airstrip. During a postaccident engine examination, no anomalies were identified that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.