Gallatin Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bozeman, Montana 59715
Wednesday, May 3, 1989 16:07 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, WHEN HE ARRIVED IN THE AREA OF THE ARPT, HE CONTACTED THE FLT SVC STATION (FSS) & WAS ADVISED THAT RWY 30 (A 9002' ASPHALT RWY) WAS ACTIVE & THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 210 DEG AT 10, GUSTING 15 KTS. THE ARPT ALSO HAD A TURF RWY (RWY 3/21) WHICH WAS 3400' LONG. THE PLT STATED THAT DRG TOUCHED DOWN ON RWY 30, A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING & THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. HE APPLIED POWER, BUT THE RIGHT WING HIT THE GROUND & THE ACFT CARTWHEELED. SHORTLY AFTER COMING TO REST, IT BEGAN BURNING & WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH LED TO HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: USE OF AN UNFAVORABLE RUNWAY, CROSSWIND, AND GUSTS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/3/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1607
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City BOZEMAN
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59715
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GALLATIN FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BZN
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 4474
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1515 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BZM
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 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) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 496
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 3 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1740
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38996
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:40PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9858D
NTSB Number DEN89LA114
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18-150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7026
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 May 8 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 2911
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARLAR, CHARLES
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 2 BOX 543G
Aircraft Owner City HEBER SPRINGS
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72543
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MARLAR, CHARLES H.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RTE 2, BOX 543G
Operator City HEBER SPRINGS
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 72543
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 MSO
Departure City MISSOULA
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MSO
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 30
Runway Length 9002
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --