Sher-Wood Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Plentywood, Montana 59254
Sunday, April 13, 1997 9:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While landing, the airplane bounced, and the pilot advanced the throttle to added power, but there was an initial hesitation in engine response. As power was regained, the right wing dropped and dragged the ground, turning the airplane to the right. The airplane then entered a wheat stubble field, struck a furrow, and flipped over. No evidence of mechanical problems was found during a postflight examination of the engine. The pilot, who had 213.5 hours total time including 12.8 hours in the accident aircraft, could not furnish evidence of a current biennial flight review or of required qualification to act as pilot-in-command of tailwheel aircraft. He had received 9.4 hours of dual flight instruction in the accident aircraft, but the most recent dual instruction with a certificated flight instructor was over two years before the accident. The president of the flying club that owned the aircraft, witnessed the accident. He stated he believed the hesitation in engine response was due to engine flooding as a result of excessively rapid throttle application by the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain control of the airplane. Factors relating to the accident included: the pilot's lack of recent experience in the tailwheel aircraft, his inadequate recurrent training, and rough/uneven terrain adjacent to the landing runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/13/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City PLENTYWOOD
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59254
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SHER-WOOD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PWD
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 2250
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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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) 889
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 13 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1334
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:14PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N33976
NTSB Number SEA97LA090
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 Taylorcraft
Aircraft Model BC12-65
Aircraft Series Identifier BC12-65
Aircraft Serial Number 2828
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 7 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BIG MUDDY FLYING CLUB INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 296
Aircraft Owner City PLENTYWOOD
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59254
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 PWD
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
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 26
Runway Length 2150
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --