Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G 164B N8402K

Summary

On 3 June 2015 at about 22:18 local time, a Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G 164B registered N8402K, operated by Wilson Flying Service Inc., was involved in an accident near Delaplaine, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 June 2015 at 22:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Delaplaine, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Private (PVT)

Coordinates

36.2336, -90.7267

Aircraft

Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G 164B

Registration

N8402K

Category

Airplane

Year built

1982

Engines

1

Operator

Wilson Flying Service Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Delaplaine → Delaplaine

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15LA259

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to establish a proper airspeed and angle-of attack during takeoff in elevated density altitude and light tailwind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was conducting an agricultural application flight. The pilot reported that the airplane had been refueled before the preceding flight, which was about 15 minutes long and was completed without incident, and that the fertilizer load was about the same on the accident flight as it was on the preceding flight. He added that the accident takeoff ground run was longer than for the previous takeoff and that, after he became aware of the extended ground run, the airplane was already past his predetermined takeoff "commitment" (go/no go) point. The airplane became airborne but did not climb. The tailwheel subsequently impacted a rice levee, and the airplane then settled into the field and came to rest inverted. The pilot noted that he never actually lost control of the airplane and that he did not perceive any issues with the airframe or the engine during the accident takeoff. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. An engine teardown examination revealed evidence consistent with engine operation at impact. The examination also revealed that the torsion shaft had failed due to torsional overload as a result of a sudden stoppage of the engine at impact. The density altitude was calculated to be about 1,680 ft, and a light tailwind existed at the time of the accident. The airplane was likely operating at or near its maximum gross weight, which, combined with the effects of the elevated density altitude and light tailwind conditions, resulted in the airplane becoming airborne at an airspeed that could not be maintained outside of ground effect. The pilot subsequently failed to maintain the proper angle-of-attack as he attempted to climb the airplane out of ground effect, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.