N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Helena, Montana 59601
Monday, June 24, 2013 12:05 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A family member reported that the purpose of the flight was for the pilot to practice, as he had not flown in about a month. Three witnesses provided statements during the investigation. According to the first witness, he observed two airplanes heading north; the second airplane was lower but was climbing and was much faster than the first airplane. As the second airplane was closing in on the first airplane from below, the witness stated that it suddenly made what looked like an evasive maneuver. A second witness reported that he first heard the airplane when its engine suddenly “changed pitch and sped up.” He then looked up and saw a single-engine, low-wing airplane in a nose-down attitude slowly spinning. He also stated that there were no other airplanes in the area at the time of the accident. A third witness reported that he heard “the props of a small plane struggling,” and that he thought he heard a “bang” on impact. The witness stated that he could not say if there was another airplane in the area just before the accident. Personnel located at the local non-radar-equipped control tower reported that there was no indication of another airplane in the vicinity of the accident airplane just before the accident. Postaccident on-site examination of the wreckage revealed that the accident airplane impacted relatively flat, desert-like terrain in a steep, nose-down, left-wing-low attitude, which was consistent with a stall/spin sequence. All flight controls and components necessary for flight were accounted for at the accident site, and control continuity was established. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, it is likely that the pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and subsequent impact with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/24/2013
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1205
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Helena
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59601
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 464452N
Event Location Longitude 1120011W
Event Location Airport N/A
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
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) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID HLN
Elevation of weather observation facility 3877
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.65
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33259
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional 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 2 2014 2:22PM
User who most recently changed record eckd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8255D
NTSB Number WPR13FA288
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model J35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-5356
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 22 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 5930
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name Brent E Vetter
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Helena
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59601
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Brent E Vetter
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Helena
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59601
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HLN
Departure City Helena
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1150
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code HLN
Destination City Helena
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 6 2014 4:37PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --