Sunday Creek Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Miles City, Montana 59301
Tuesady, September 26, 2000 18:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The instructor reported that the flight took off with approximately 1/2 fuel; the student stated that the flight then proceeded normally for 45 minutes to an hour prior to the accident. Both pilots reported that after applying full power on a touch-and-go and departing the runway, the aircraft did not climb at an acceptable rate (although the student reported that 'The engine seemed to be running smoothly but without power.') The aircraft's stall warning activated and the instructor took control, but he was unable to arrest a 'shallow descent' despite applying full power. The aircraft crashed about 200 yards west of the end of the airstrip's runway. Available data did not support a lack of aircraft climb capability for the density altitude conditions, excess aircraft gross weight, or a significant carburetor icing hazard. The student's carbon monoxide (CO) level was found to be slightly elevated after the accident, but the instructor's CO level was normal. Post-accident examinations of the aircraft's engine and exhaust system did not reveal any evidence of pre-accident defects.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MILES CITY
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59301
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport SUNDAY CREEK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2431
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
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 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 Serious
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 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1062
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Sep 26 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1826
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2001 3:53PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4686R
NTSB Number SEA00LA190
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-21447
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 10 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 3354
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CLIFTON G. MITCHELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10 NEUHARDT DR.
Aircraft Owner City MILES CITY
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59301
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MLS
Departure City MILES CITY
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 2 2001 4:09AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --