Towssend Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Townsend, Montana 59644
Monday, July 2, 1984 16:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT WEATHERVANED DURING LANDING IN A CROSSWIND AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND IRRIGATION PIPE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE STUDENT PLT HAD THOUGHT THE LANDING IN A X-WIND WOULD BE GOOD PRACTICE SO HE CONTINUED THE APPROACH BUT AT THE LAST MOMEMT ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND. THE ACFT STALLED AND WEATHERVANED OFF THE RWY. REPORTED WINDS AT TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE FROM 300 DEG AT 15 KTS GUSTING TO 20 KTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/1984
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City TOWNSEND
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59644
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TOWSSEND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 808
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 3900
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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 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) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5200
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) 1035
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 24776
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9826T
NTSB Number DEN84LA208
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
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 3878AO217
Certified Max Gross Weight 1700
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 12 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2823
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EMIL ERIHARDT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 311 S. TRACY
Aircraft Owner City BOZEMAN
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
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
Operator City BELGRADE
Operator State MT
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BZN
Departure City BOZEMAN
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1605
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BZN
Destination City BOZEMAN
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 35
Runway Length 4100
Runway Width 72
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --