Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lodgepole, South Dakota 57640
Thursday, May 19, 2005 8:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with the terrain following a loss of control during a predator control flight. The pilot reported the purpose of the flight was an aerial hunt of coyote. The pilot stated that upon arriving in the area, he spotted a coyote and made a normal pass near it. His gunner then informed him that the shotgun had jammed so he made an "immediate 360-degree left turn." The pilot reported that when he got within 20 to 30 yards of the coyote, he encountered wake turbulence from his previous pass. He stated he applied full power and attempted to pull up. The pilot reported, "I sensed that due to the rate of descent I was going to strike the ground." The airplane contacted the terrain and became airborne before striking the terrain a second time.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The poor inflight planning and the pilot's inability to maintain control of the airplane. A factor associated with the accident was the low altitude at which the airplane encoutnered its own wake.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/19/2005
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 815
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Lodgepole
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57640
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 455300N
Event Location Longitude 1023922W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18201
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N102AM
NTSB Number CHI05CA117
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Public Use
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aviat
Aircraft Model A-1B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2182
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name South Dakota Dept of Game, Fish, and Parks
Aircraft Owner Street Address 523 E. Capital Avenue
Aircraft Owner City Pierre
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 57501
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) --
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Meadow
Departure State SD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Lodgepole
Destination State SD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 17 2005 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --