Prill Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sand Coulee, Montana 59472
Sunday, October 18, 2009 9:55 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a grass runway, with a 30-degree right crosswind. He reported that when the airplane touched down, during the landing rollout, the right wing "came up" and the airplane began to swerve. The pilot reported that he was able to correct the swerve; however, the left wing "hit the turf," which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/18/2009
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 955
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Sand Coulee
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59472
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 472515N
Event Location Longitude 1110930W
Event Location Airport Prill Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1MT7
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
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 Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
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) 26288
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC SEA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 6 2010 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1677R
NTSB Number WPR10CA024
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model A185F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 185-02400
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 9 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3713
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name PRILL DANIEL F
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SAND COULEE
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59472
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name PRILL DANIEL F
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City SAND COULEE
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59472
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 1MT7
Departure City Great Falls
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Great Falls
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 7 2009 1:19AM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 3160
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --