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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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August 1, 2004 · Piper PA22-20 · N3838P

Wht Sulphur Spg, MT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 1, 2004
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Wht Sulphur Spg, MT
Aircraft
Piper PA22-20
Tail Number
N3838P
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA04CA151

The pilot said that he was getting his tail wheel endorsement and 15 hours flight time (with an instructor) for aircraft insurance purposes. He said that he had landed the airplane, and during the rollout, the airplane swerved. He said that he applied the brakes too hard, and the airplane nosed over on the runway. The left wing strut was bent, and the vertical stabilizer was bent and wrinkled.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the private pilot receiving flight training for a tail wheel endorsement to maintain aircraft control, and his excessive braking during the landing roll, subsequently nosing over the airplane. A contributing factor was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the trainee.

Full Narrative

On August 1, 2004, at approximately 0750 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA22-20, N3838P, was substantially damaged when it nosed over following excessive braking during the landing roll at White Sulphur Springs Airport, White Sulphur Springs, Montana. The private pilot receiving instruction and the flight instructor were not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country instructional flight that originated from Bozeman, Montana, approximately 45 minutes before the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. The pilot said that he was getting his tail wheel endorsement and 15 hours flight time (with an instructor) for aircraft insurance purposes. He said that he had landed the airplane on runway 19, and during the rollout the airplane swerved. He said that he applied the brakes too hard, and the airplane nosed over on the runway. The left wing strut was bent, and the vertical stabilizer was bent and wrinkled. The pilot said that he passed his private pilot check ride on June 24, 2004; his private pilot license with assigned number was pending.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:50 MDT
Nearest AirportWhite Sulphur Springs Airport (0nm)
Runway19
Runway Length6100 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA22-20
Tail NumberN3838P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 29 · Third Class · None
Crew 2Age 61 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 45 C
Altimeter30.04 inHg
Observation Time13:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data