Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Watford City, North Dakota 58854
Monday, September 12, 1983 7:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO WEATHER. THE PLT HAD BEEN BRIEFED ON THE WEATHER THE EVENING BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN THE FLIGHT WAS 20 MINUTES FROM HOME HE 'THOUGHT WE COULD MAKE IT.' HOWEVER, HE DECIDED TO LAND ON A RANCH BELOW AND WAIT ON WEATHER IMPROVEMENT. DURING MANEUVERING TO LAND THE FOG WAS ENTERED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER. THE PLT SAW THE GROUND AND STALL LANDED. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING ROLLOUT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/12/1983
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 730
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City WATFORD CITY
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58854
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 9
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 Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 750 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 295
Weather Observation Facility ID ISN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1957
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1637
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1766
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22037
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5821W
NTSB Number DEN83LA213
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-28B-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28B-150
Aircraft Serial Number 28-2033
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LARRY LESTER BIEBER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 318 W. 4TH BOX 263
Aircraft Owner City FAIRVIEW
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59221
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 Y74
Departure City PARSHALL
Departure State ND
Departure Country
Departure Time 730
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SDY
Destination City SIDNEY
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --