Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cut Bank, Montana 59427
Tuesady, July 10, 2001 10:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the after-takeoff climb in high density altitude conditions, the aircraft encountered a dust devil/whirlwind that altered its attitude and heading. Although the pilot was able to recover from this upset, the aircraft was then headed for the knoll of a small hill. The pilot therefore raised the nose of the aircraft in an attempt to clear the knoll, but in doing so he allowed the airspeed to deteriorate, and the aircraft subsequently stall/mushed into the terrain.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain a speed above stall velocity (Vs) during the after-takeoff climb. Factors include a high density altitude, and a dust devil/whirlwind located along the route of departure.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/2001
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Cut Bank
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59427
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 235
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) 5640
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10526
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operation Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 12 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 19 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8475C
NTSB Number SEA01LA133
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-28R
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7635162
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 3 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 4964
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ramon N. Archer
Aircraft Owner Street Address 408 S Maryland St.
Aircraft Owner City Conrad
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59425
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Linberg Ranch
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GGW
Destination City Glascow
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 27 2001 5:19PM
User who most recently changed record RANS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --