Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Zurich, Montana 59523
Tuesady, July 15, 2003 7:40 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was conducting low level predator control operations in a slow flight mode with flaps at 1/2. During a left turn from the west to the east, at 30 to 40 feet above ground level, the pilot felt the initial indications of the airplane entering a stall. As the wings were rolled level the aircraft entered a secondary stall, subsequently impacting the ground in a slight nose down, wings level attitude.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/15/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 740
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Zurich
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59523
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 483750N
Event Location Longitude 1090153W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 755 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 245
Weather Observation Facility ID HVR
Elevation of weather observation facility 2590
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
Density Altitude (feet) 3262
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14505
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 15 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena, Montana

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6792B
NTSB Number SEA03LA140
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-18A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-5026
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 Jun 2 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 79
Airframe Hours 5123
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Leland L. Blatter
Aircraft Owner Street Address 100 Airport Road
Aircraft Owner City Glasgow
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59230
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Prairie Aviation, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 100 Airport Road
Operator City Glasgow
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59230
Operator Code VPEA
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code S71
Departure City Chinook
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 600
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code S71
Destination City Zurich
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2003 1:12PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --