Lemhi County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Salmon, Idaho 83467
Saturday, August 21, 2004 10:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

In a written statement the pilot reported that the airplane "veered to the left" shortly after commencing the takeoff roll. The pilot reported that corrective actions were taken, however, he was unable to correct the situation before the airplane exited the runway edge. After exiting the runway, the airplane encountered a drainage ditch and nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Directional control not maintained during the takeoff roll resulting in a runway excursion and subsequent nose over. Factors include a drainage ditch.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/21/2004
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Salmon
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83467
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 450724N
Event Location Longitude 1135253W
Event Location Airport LEMHI COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SMN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.02
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4043
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17060
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Aug 25 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Boise, Idaho

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7993A
NTSB Number SEA04LA172
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 Tubbs
Aircraft Model PA-18-225 DD
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number Pa0204
Certified Max Gross Weight 2100
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 25
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John R. Gregory
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Salmon
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83467
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SMN
Departure City Salmon
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SMN
Destination City Salmon
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 26 2004 4:11PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 5150
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --