Great Falls International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Great Falls, Montana 59403
Saturday, March 25, 1989 12:01 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER LANDING ON RUNWAY 21, HE WAS CLEARED TO TAXI DOWN THE ACTIVE RUNWAY UNTIL REACHING A TAXIWAY. WHILE TAXIING DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE RIGHT WING LIFTED UP AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND IT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE 20 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 26 KNOTS. THE FAA CONTROL TOWER HAD ADVISED THE PLT OF CURRENT WIND INFO AT INITIAL CONTACT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMPENSATE ADEQUATELY FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND LANDING DESPITE HAVING BEEN ALERTED TO WIND CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/25/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1201
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GREAT FALLS
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59403
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GREAT FALLS INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GTF
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 3674
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GTF
Elevation of weather observation facility 3674
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 26
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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) 168
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 28 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38487
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:31PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4273Z
NTSB Number DEN89LA094
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-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18-150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-8520
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 21 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2196
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name D-O AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address POB 416 624 FOURTH PLACE SW
Aircraft Owner City LAUREL
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
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 6S8
Departure City LAUREL
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code GTF
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
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 21
Runway Length 10502
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --