Meadow Creek Usfs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Meadow Creek, Montana 59919
Saturday, September 20, 2014 9:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Upon arrival in the vicinity of the unpaved airstrip, the pilot made a "mid-field fly over" to check the wind socks, which indicated calm winds. He then flew a low pass along the runway in order to ensure that it was suitable for landing. Satisfied with the wind and runway conditions, he flew a normal traffic pattern for landing. The tailwheel equipped airplane touched down in a 3-point attitude, but rebounded into the air. In accordance with previous experience, the pilot applied forward stick to "stop the bounce," and the airplane continued down the runway on the main gear. According to the pilot, the main wheels "hit a dip" which resulted in a nose down pitching that the pilot was unable to arrest. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the runway revealed no obvious holes or impediments in the landing strip surface. It was noted that one wind sock on the airport was situated so close to significantly taller trees that it would not have provided valid wind speed or direction information. Review of meteorological information indicated that light winds prevailed for the region. 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 inadequate landing flare and failure to maintain aircraft control during landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/20/2014
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Meadow Creek
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59919
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 475058N
Event Location Longitude 1132503W
Event Location Airport Meadow Creek USFS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0S1
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3984
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) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33446
NTSB Notification Source FAA NWM ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 20 2014 1:12PM
User who most recently changed record eckd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N714TM
NTSB Number WPR14CA384
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 BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 7GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier NO SERIES
Aircraft Serial Number 348-72
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 19 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1873
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SLEEPING GIANT FLYING CLUB INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 4853
Aircraft Owner City HELENA
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 596044853
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SLEEPING GIANT FLYING CLUB INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 4853
Operator City HELENA
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 596044853
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 3U7
Departure City Benchmark
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 0S1
Destination City Meadow Creek
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 20 2014 1:12PM
User who most recently changed record eckd
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 2830
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --