Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Belgrade, Montana 59714
Sunday, June 3, 1990 8:32 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT HAD APRX 10 GAL IN THE LEFT TANK AND 8 GAL IN THE RIGHT TANK PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE PLT AND PAX TOOK OFF, DID 3 TOUCH-AND-GOES, THEN WENT SIGHTSEEING. THEY RETURNED TO THE ARPT AND DID ANOTHER TOUCH-AND-GO. ON CLIMBOUT, THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT MANAGED TO RESTART THE ENG, BUT IT QUIT AGAIN. THE ACFT WAS SEEN TO MAKE A STEEP RIGHT BANK AND CRASH. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS NOT COMPROMISED. APRX 10 GAL OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE LEFT TANK. NO FUEL WAS IN THE RIGHT TANK AND THE GASCOLATOR WAS DRY. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN FOR 2.1 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. FUEL CONSUMPTION VARIES FROM 4.3 TO 6.5 GPH, DEPENDING ON PWR SETTING AND ALT FLOWN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE INADVERTENT STALL EXPERIENCED DURING THE ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/3/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 832
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City BELGRADE
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59714
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 844 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BZN
Elevation of weather observation facility 4474
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 4596
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 606
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 3 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1145
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41568
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9375T
NTSB Number DEN90LA122
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-78A0078
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 23 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 3792
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SUNBIRD AVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 808
Aircraft Owner City BELGRADE
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59714
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SUNBIRD AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 808
Operator City BELGRADE
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59714
Operator Code CXNA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 BZN
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 635
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code BZN
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --