Gallatin Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bozeman, Montana 59714
Thursday, February 8, 2001 14:20 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot rated passenger and prospective buyer of the tailwheel equipped Piper PA-12, was flying the aircraft from the front seat with the owner occupying the rear seat. During a touch-and-go landing the aircraft veered right and then hard left, during which the pilot (passenger) attempted to correct with rudder and the addition of power. The aircraft then ran off the left side of the runway into a snowberm and nosed over. The flying pilot reported 81 hours of flight experience in the PA-12. Calm winds existed at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot rated passenger's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. A factor was the snow berm which the aircraft rolled into during the landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/8/2001
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1420
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Bozeman
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59714
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Gallatin Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BZN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4474
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1356 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BZN
Elevation of weather observation facility 4474
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10337
NTSB Notification Source FAA HELENA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Feb 8 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1348
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2001 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office HELENA FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7940H
NTSB Number SEA01LA047
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 12-844
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 7300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Chandler, Douglas S.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2002 Knaab Drive
Aircraft Owner City Bozeman
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59715
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BZN
Departure City Bozeman
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1320
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 1 2001 6:00PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 9003
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --