N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nashua, Montana 59248
Sunday, September 8, 2013 7:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during takeoff from a private dirt airstrip, the airplane collided with a dirt berm and ground looped. The berm was a result of recent work in the area of the airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.          

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a berm during the takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control.    

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/8/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 745
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Nashua
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59248
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 481754N
Event Location Longitude 1061530W
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 2780
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID GGW
Elevation of weather observation facility 2295
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KGGW 081353Z AUTO 15003KT 10SM OVC009 16/14
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) 31977
NTSB Notification Source NTSB Comm 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 2013 7:42PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5515V
NTSB Number WPR13CA403
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 MAULE
Aircraft Model M-7-260C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 30023C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 24 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 573.5
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Kurt & Tammy Kummerfeldt
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Nashua
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59248
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Kurt Kummerfeldt
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Nashua
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59248
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Nashua
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 745
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Nashua
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 23 2013 7:20PM
User who most recently changed record jonp
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 --