Bozeman Yellowstone Internatio Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bozeman, Montana 59714
Monday, September 16, 2013 14:20 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that after aborting the takeoff due to an approaching thunderstorm and high wind, while taxiing back to the parking area, a strong wind lifted the airplane. The airplane subsequently nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. 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 aircraft control and inadequate compensation for the high gusty wind conditions during taxi.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/16/2013
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1420
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Bozeman
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59714
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 454645N
Event Location Longitude 1110920W
Event Location Airport Bozeman Yellowstone Internatio
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KBZN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 4473
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2034 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 337
Weather Observation Facility ID KBZN
Elevation of weather observation facility 4449
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 27
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 42
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report SPECI KBZN 162034Z 23027G42KT 6SM VCTS HZ SQ FEW06
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31974
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC Seattle
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 8 2013 6:52PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4988M
NTSB Number WPR13CA412
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA 11
Aircraft Series Identifier NO SERIES
Aircraft Serial Number 11-476
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
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 --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name N4988M LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BOZEMAN
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 597189732
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name N4988M LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City BOZEMAN
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 597189732
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 KBZN
Departure City Bozeman
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1420
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KBZN
Destination City Bozeman
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 8 2013 6:52PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --