Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Manhattan, Montana 59741
Thursday, January 3, 1985 5:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN OPEN FLT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT REPORTEDLY STATED HE NEEDED TO DEPART MANHATTAN BY 0500 MST TO ARRIVE IN HELENA BEFORE 0600 MST WHEN THE ATC TWR OPENED AS HIS ACFT WAS NOT RADIO EQUIPPED. THE WRECKAGE WAS DISCOVERED AT 1430 MST BY ANOTHER ACFT. THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AT MANHATTAN WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY RWY LIGHTING. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT AND ENG DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/3/1985
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 500
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City MANHATTAN
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59741
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 1
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 Unknown
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 452 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID BZN
Elevation of weather observation facility 4458
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 4800
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1413
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 3 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28779
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N13954
NTSB Number DEN85FTI01
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name POLLIWAGEN
Aircraft Model 2 PLACE
Aircraft Series Identifier 2 PLACE
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 51
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAY MOLENDYK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10400 CHURCHILL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City MANHATTAN
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59741
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 500
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HLN
Destination City HELENA
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --