Great Falls Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Great Falls, Montana 59401
Tuesady, December 27, 1983 22:10 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED IN A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY AFTER THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE PLT SAID 'THE ENGINE MADE UNUSUAL SOUNDS OF AN ENGINE RUNNING BAD.' THEN IT LOST COMPRESSION AND SEIZED. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY AND DAMAGEDTHE HULL. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED A SITUATION WHERE THE MAIN OIL BREATHER FROZE PREVENTING OIL VAPOR PRESSURE FROM VENTING; CAUSING THE ENGINE SEALS TO FAIL AND THEREBY DEPLETNG THE OIL SUPPLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/27/1983
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2210
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GREAT FALLS
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59401
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GREAT FALLS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GTF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation 3674
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2223 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GTF
Elevation of weather observation facility 3674
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) -23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
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) 2377
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22709
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 N39451
NTSB Number DEN84LA052
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 LAKE
Aircraft Model LA-4-200
Aircraft Series Identifier LA-4-200
Aircraft Serial Number 541
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Jun 15 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1075
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILFRED R. FROST
Aircraft Owner Street Address 28 COGAN AVE.
Aircraft Owner City PLATTSBURGH
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12901
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 MSO
Departure City MISSOULA
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 2100
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MLS
Destination City MILES CITY
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --