Anaconda Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anaconda, Montana 59711
Saturday, August 17, 1991 15:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM THE AIRPORT WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 7500-8000 FEET UNDER NO WIND CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FULLY FUELED AND NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND THE PILOT DID NOT ADJUST THE FUEL/PASSENGER LOAD TO COMPENSATE. DURING THE TAKEOFF THE AIRSPEED DECAYED BELOW STALL SPEED AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND DESCENDED BACK TO THE RUNWAY. INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE WAS AVAILABLE DURING THE STALL TO ENABLE THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING INITIAL CLIMB. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND A PREMATURE LIFTOFF BY THE PILOT WERE FACTORS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/17/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ANACONDA
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59711
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ANACONDA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3U3
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 5030
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 7750
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1337
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43942
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2069H
NTSB Number SEA91LA211
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 Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.)
Aircraft Model 415C
Aircraft Series Identifier 415C
Aircraft Serial Number 2692
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WALTER J. SMITH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 335 LITTLE BASIN CREEK
Aircraft Owner City BUTTE
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WALTER J. SMITH
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 335 LITTLE BASIN CREEK
Operator City BUTTE
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59701
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 1500
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 4500
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --