Dillon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dillon, Montana 59725
Sunday, August 31, 2008 12:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that his pilot-certificated passenger was landing the tail-wheel airplane when he lost directional control during the landing roll. As the airplane was departing the runway, the pilot took over the flight controls in order to direct the airplane to the adjacent runway. The airplane impacted a gopher hole and nosed over. The engine firewall and vertical stabilizer were wrinkled, and three lift struts and both wing spars were bent.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot-certificated passenger's failure to maintain directional control during landing and the pilot's delayed remedial action and inadequate supervision.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/31/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Dillon
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59725
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 451532N
Event Location Longitude 1123315W
Event Location Airport Dillon Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DLN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 5241
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID DLN
Elevation of weather observation facility 5241
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
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) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.7
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) 24504
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 21 2008 3:42PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena, MT

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4143D
NTSB Number LAX08CA287
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-3154
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 4
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 2780
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dennis A. De Vivo
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Dillon
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59725
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Dennis A. De Vivo
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Dillon
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59725
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code DLN
Departure City Dillon
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code DLN
Destination City Dillon
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 21 2008 3:42PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 3599
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --