# Accident 20240605009289A: Republic RC-3, Butte, MT, June 5, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 5, 2024, 15:45 local time
- Place: Butte, MT
- Airport: Bert Mooney
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.9548° N, 112.4975° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9548&lon=-112.4975&mi=10
- Aircraft: N87583, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87583) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Republic RC-3 (registry code 3080202, https://openairdocs.org/model/republic-rc-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming GSO&IGSO-480 series (registry code 41529, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-gso-igso-480-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: REPUBLIC RC-3
- Reported engine: LYCOMING GSO&IGSO-480
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA180) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240605009289A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVIATION:

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS OPERATED ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN. DURING TAKE-OFF FROM RUNWAY 33 FROM KBTM (BERT MOONEY FIELD, BUTTE, MT) THE PILOT REPORTED EXPERIENCING A STRONG LEFT QUARTERING WIND GUST, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WEATHERVANED INTO THE WIND AND DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY DURING THE TAKE-OFF ROLL. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND PARALLEL TAXIWAY AFTER A WING FLOAT TOUCHED THE GROUND RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

CAUSAL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

A SUBSTANTIAL WIND GUST WHICH WAS NOT FORECASTED OR PRESENT DURING PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING OR RUN-UP ULTIMATELY CAUSED THE PILOT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKE-OFF ROLL. PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GROUND SPEED WAS "LESS THAN 25 MPH WHEN A LEFT QUARTERING WIND GUST CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO WEATHERVANE AND DEPART THE RUNWAY TO THE SOD" THE PILOT STATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN HAZARD IN THIS AIRCRAFT MAKE/MODEL AND THAT A MAJORITY OF HIS FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WAS OPERATING THIS AIRCRAFT IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS, INCLUDING AT HIGH ALTITUDE AND TEMPERATURE.

NO ATC ACTIONS CONTRIBUTORY TO THE EVENT.

NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION.

ACTION TAKEN TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND PREVENT REOCCURANCE:

COUNSELING

SAS #: T-NM05-FY24-0370

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR24LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA180), Jun 5, 2024: Republic RC-3 (N87583), Butte, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff with a gusty left quartering crosswind.

## Other reports on N87583 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20190714016839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190714016839I), Jul 14, 2019: Republic RC-3 (N87583), Bremerton, WA, Minor damage. Pilot failed to lower landing gear prior to touchdown.
- [Accident 19871004060349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871004060349A), Oct 4, 1987: Stolam RC3 (N87583), Clearlake, CA, Substantial damage. Collided with the water on touchdown. Nosed over and sank. Forgot to retract the landing gear on takeoff at airport

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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