Pierre Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pierre, South Dakota 57501
Sunday, September 2, 2001 12:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was damaged when it ground looped while landing. In his written statement, the pilot said that while performing a practice short field landing, a gust of wind, "...picked aircraft from runway - placing it about a 30 [degree] angle to [the] direction of travel - with addition of power and control inputs, I was not able to correct before returning to runway. Resultant ground loop damaged landing gear and wing...." The weather reporting station located at the accident airport recorded the wind at 1153 as variable direction at 4 knots. No gusts were listed on the 1153 report.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot not maintaining directional control of the airplane during landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/2/2001
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Pierre
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57501
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport PIERRE REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PIR
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 1742
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PIR
Elevation of weather observation facility 1742
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.74
Density Altitude (feet) 4617
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11808
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 4 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1541
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 4 2002 9:52AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Rapid City, South Dakota

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4215Y
NTSB Number CHI01LA306
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 Bellanca
Aircraft Model 7GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 968-77
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 Oct 17 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 1219
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Kenneth L. McGirr
Aircraft Owner Street Address 39986 205th Street
Aircraft Owner City Huron
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 57350
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code PIR
Departure City Pierre
Departure State SD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1115
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 15 2002 12:55PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 6891
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --