Starr-Browning Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Browning, Montana 59417
Sunday, April 13, 2014 11:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that after the approximate one hour flight, she configured the airplane for a 3-point, short field landing. She was planning to land on the airstrip that slopes uphill towards the east, with shallow ditches on either side. After touchdown, the airplane rolled about 90 feet and began to veer to the left of the center. Despite her attempts to correct with right rudder, the airplane did not respond. The pilot added engine power in an effort to increase the airflow over the tail and the airplane immediately veered right to about a 70 degree angle across the narrow strip. She subsequently added full power in an effort to abort the landing since the airplane was nearing the down slope of the ditch. The right main gear hit the far side of the ditch and she retarded the throttle and brought the airplane to a stop. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred structural damage to the gearbox. 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 directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a veer off the airstrip and collision with a ditch.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/13/2014
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Browning
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59417
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 483604N
Event Location Longitude 1130655W
Event Location Airport STARR-BROWNING AIRSTRIP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 8S0
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 9
Airport Elevation 4657
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 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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 45
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32738
NTSB Notification Source FAA 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 May 23 2014 3:40PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7884D
NTSB Number WPR14CA170
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 18S-150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-6044
Certified Max Gross Weight 1760
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 9 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3870
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARTIN JOHN
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BROWNING
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59417
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name MARTIN JOHN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City BROWNING
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59417
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 53U
Departure City Ferndale
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 8S0
Destination City Browning
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 23 2014 3:41PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 06
Runway Length 4051
Runway Width 74
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --