Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Highmore, South Dakota 57345
Saturday, December 6, 2003 10:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The amateur-built experimental biplane was substantially damaged when it hit a snow bank and nosed over during landing. The pilot reported that prior to the flight he contacted the owner of the private grass strip to verify runway condition. The owner reportedly indicated that the runway was acceptable for use. The pilot noted that upon arrival the wind was from the southeast about 10 miles per hour. He stated that he set-up and landed to the south. "After landing, I hit a small snowdrift, added power and the plane nosed over," according to the pilot. He reported no failures or malfunctions with the aircraft or engine prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot. Contributing factors were the grass runway surface and the snowbank.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/6/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Highmore
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57345
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 445100N
Event Location Longitude 0992200W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
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 1850
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID PIR
Elevation of weather observation facility 1742
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 48
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 21
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.85
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) 15461
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date Dec 6 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 18 2010 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-Rapid City FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7543E
NTSB Number CHI04LA040
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 Clement-Kazmierczak
Aircraft Model Sorrell SNS-7
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 247
Certified Max Gross Weight 1911
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Nov 14 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 727
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Timothy Morton
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1010 Bandera Avenue
Aircraft Owner City Douglas
Aircraft Owner State WY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 82633
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 DGW
Departure City Douglas
Departure State WY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 715
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City Highmore
Destination State SD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 18 2010 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --