Haglof Ranch Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rock Springs, Montana 59312
Sunday, May 31, 2009 7:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot began the takeoff roll in gusting crosswind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s demonstrated crosswind velocity. During the roll the airplane departed the runway, spun around, and came to rest facing opposite the direction of travel. The main landing gear failed during the accident sequence, with signatures that indicated it had sustained an overload. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had waited to takeoff in lower wind conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to attempt to takeoff in crosswind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s demonstrated crosswind capability.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/31/2009
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 715
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Rock Springs
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59312
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 465214n
Event Location Longitude 1061426w
Event Location Airport Haglof Ranch Airstrip
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 --
Airport Elevation 2894
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 653 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID MLS
Elevation of weather observation facility 2630
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 34
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.77
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) 26370
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO Helena, MT
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2010 12:09PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9955J
NTSB Number WPR09LA281
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model T188C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number T18803884T
Certified Max Gross Weight 4400
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 19 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 3700
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name HAGLOF RANCH CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ANGELA
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59312-0190
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Dennis Pluhar
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ANGELA
Operator State --
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59312-0190
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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 Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PVT
Departure City Rock Springs
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 715
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City Rock Springs
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 1 2009 3:48PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 02
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --