Ekalaka Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ekalaka, Montana 59324
Wednesday, October 21, 1987 11:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED AN UNEXPECTED TAILWIND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TRIED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF BUT TALL GRASS AND THE TAILWIND DID NOT ALLOW THE AIRCRAFT TO DECELERATE PROPERLY. THE AIRCRAFT RAN THROUGH TWO DRAINAGE DITCHES AND STRUCK THE RIDGE OF A THIRD. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A FIELD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/21/1987
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City EKALAKA
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59324
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport EKALAKA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5U2
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 3480
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
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 6000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 3000
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1524
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 21 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34978
Date of most recent change to record Sep 25 2006 4:03PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2028D
NTSB Number DEN88LA012
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 None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model C35
Aircraft Series Identifier C35
Aircraft Serial Number 3379
Certified Max Gross Weight 2700
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 27 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD R. STRODE
Aircraft Owner Street Address W 296 N510 BLODWEN DR.
Aircraft Owner City WAUKESHA
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53188
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STRODE, DONALD L.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address W 296 N 510 BLODWEN DR
Operator City WAUKESHA
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 53188
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 1100
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code UES
Destination City WAUKESHA
Destination State WI
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 12
Runway Length 2950
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --