20030621012599A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-11 · Alzada, MT · June 21, 2003

Date: June 21, 2003 · 08:30 local
Place: Alzada, MT
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N4565M
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA03LA111
Reported as: Piper PA11
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 200 total100 in this make and model13 in the last 90 days

N4565MRegistered now · Piper PA-11S/N 11-68 Airframe modelPiper PA-11 Engine modelContinental C90 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Lane pilster, a student pilot, was surveying property at approximately 200' AGL. While flying east to west in a 30-40 degree banking turn, pilot stated a gust of wind took the aircraft to a bank angle slightly over 90 degrees. The aircraft then stalled. The pilot indicated that he regained control of aircraft at approximately 75' but could not stop the descent rate. Aircraft impacted ground and slid across the sage brush for approximately 34'. The engine separated from the aircraft and started a small fire that eventually consumed plane. The pilot was able to evacuate the aircraft without injury.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) LANE PILSTER, A STUDENT PILOT, WAS SURVEYING PROPERTY AT APPROXIMATELY 200' AGL. WHILE FLYING EAST TO WEST IN A 30-40 DEGREE BANKING TURN, PILOT STATED A GUST OF WIND TOOK THE AIRCRAFT TO A BANK ANGLE SLIGHTLY OVER 90 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STALLED. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE REGAINED CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT AT APPROXIMATELY 75' BUT COULD NOT STOP THE DESCENT RATE. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED GROUND AND SLID ACROSS THE SAGE BRUSH FOR APPROXIMATELY 34'. THE ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND STARTED A SMALL FIRE THAT EVENTUALLY CONSUMED PLANE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA03LA111Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAlzada, MTThe student pilot's failure to maintain adequate flying airspeed in a turn while maneuvering close to the ground resulting in a stall condition. A contributing factor was the turbulent wind conditions.Jun 21, 2003 · Destroyed