Murphy Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Murphy, Idaho 83650
Saturday, June 20, 1998 9:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After touching down in a 10 to 15 knot crosswind, the pilot found that the aircraft was moving '...quickly to the right.' He therefore decided to execute a go-around. Although the aircraft successfully lifted off the runway, the high density altitude kept it from outclimbing the surrounding terrain. As the pilot raised the nose of the aircraft in an attempt to keep it climbing over the rising terrain, the aircraft stalled, caught a wing and cartwheeled.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to initiate an aborted landing at an airport where, due to the high density altitude, his aircraft was unable to outclimb the rising terrain that surrounded airport. Factors include a high density altitude and crosswinds.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/20/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MURPHY
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83650
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MURPHY AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1U3
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 2855
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 4
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 266
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 20 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:33AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8030P
NTSB Number SEA98LA107
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 Aeronca
Aircraft Model 7AC
Aircraft Series Identifier 7AC
Aircraft Serial Number 3523
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 Jun 10 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 23
Airframe Hours 2608
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROCKY MOUNTAIN AIR SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 101 MUNICIPAL DR.
Aircraft Owner City NAMPA
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83687
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 No
Departure Airport Code S67
Departure City NAMPA
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 815
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 1U3
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
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 12
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 45
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --