Stevensville Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stevensville, Montana 59870
Monday, May 20, 1996 9:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the accident flight was his first flight in the homebuilt airplane. The airplane was a sport bi-wing. During the landing rollout, gusts and crosswinds prevailed. The airplane veered off the runway, and the left gear collapsed. The pilot stated that he 'over-corrected' during the landing rollout, while he attempted to keep the airplane on the runway. No preimpact mechanical malfunction was reported by the pilot. In the 'Recommendation' section of NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: 'Become more familiar with aircraft flight and landing characteristics.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during the landing roll, which resulted in loss of directional control and an inadvertent ground swerve. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse wind conditions (crosswind and gusts), rough terrain, and the pilot's lack of experience in the type of aircraft.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/20/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City STEVENSVILLE
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59870
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport STEVENSVILLE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 32S
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3620
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 938
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 28 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:01AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N94AT
NTSB Number SEA96LA096
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
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 Tilbert
Aircraft Model BABY GREAT LAKES
Aircraft Series Identifier BABY GREAT
Aircraft Serial Number 82963BGL
Certified Max Gross Weight 950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 12 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 41
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHNSON, JAMES F.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5642 LOWER WOODCHUCK
Aircraft Owner City FLORENCE
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59833
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 3800
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --