Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Near Bozeman, Montana
Monday, January 11, 1982 7:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ON AN EARLY MORNING FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT 8500 FEET. WHILE INBOUND TO HIS DESTINATION, HE ENCOUNTERED AN AREA OF RESTRICTED VISIBILITY WITH SNOW. AS HE STARTED A RIGHT TURN TO CORRECT TO HIS DESIRED COURSE, HIS PASSENGER ALERTED HIM OF A HILL AHEAD. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, HE EXPERIENCED A RAPID DESCENT. HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND TRIED TO CLIMB, BUT WAS UNABLE. WHILE LOOSING AIRSPEED, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN IN WHAT THE PILOT DESCRIBED AS A STALL. THE PLANE STRUCK A TREE BEFORE IMPACTING IN 4 TO 5 FT OF SNOW ON A MOUNTAIN SLOPE. BOTH OCCUPANTS SURVIVED THE IMPACT. THE ELT WAS REMOVED AND SWITCHED FROM "ARM" TO "ON." IT WAS CARRIED DURING THEIR TREK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. THE SIGNAL EVENTUALLY LED SEARCH AIRCRAFT TO THEIR LOCATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/11/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 730
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City NEAR BOZEMAN
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 1
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
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) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 45
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Heavy
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 361
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7273J
NTSB Number DEN82FTI10
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 2824615
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 2989
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name P. D. SEBASTIAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address ARCHER STAR ROUTE
Aircraft Owner City PLENTYWOOD
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59254
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name P. D. SEBASTIAN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ARCHER STAR ROUTE
Operator City PLENTYWOOD
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59254
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GTF
Departure City GREAT FALLS
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 630
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BZN
Destination City BOZEMAN
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --