# NTSB DEN82AA132: Piper PA-24-250, N5356P, Billings, MT, July 9, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: July 9, 1982, 08:19 local (14:19 UTC)
- Place: Billings, MT
- Coordinates: 45.649715, -108.380516 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6497&lon=-108.3805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69950
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82AA132
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69950/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82AA132

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather forecast - inaccurate, nws personnel (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather observation - not performed, nws personnel (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - artcc service - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause)
  - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
- Overrun, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

PLT DECIDED TO LAND ENROUTE DUE WX. AT 0803 HE CONTACTED BILLINGS FSS & WAS ADVISED BILLINGS WX WAS 5,000 FT BROKEN. AT 0809 HE CALLED BILLINGS APPROACH CONTROL (A/C) & ADVISED HE WAS 20 MI FOR LANDING. ENROUTE TO ARPT HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE ARPT DUE WX UNTIL 0818 WHEN TOWER CLEARED TO LAND ON RWY 4. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 2/3 DOWN THE RWY, SKIDDED OFF THE RWY TO A POINT WHERE THE GROUND DROPS OFF ABRUPTLY. THE ACFT WAS THEN AIRBORNE FOR ANOTHER 130 FT BEFOREIMPACTING THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. AT NO TIME DURING THE RAPIDLY DETERIORATING WX CONDITIONS WERE SPECIALWX OBSERVATIONS TAKEN. DURING THE APPROACH THE PLT WAS INSTRUCTED TO DESCEND TO 4,000 FT. THE ARPT ELEVATION IS 3,649 FT. THE PLT NEVER MENTIONED HE HAD RECEIVED THE ATIS INFO WHICH INDICATED WINDS FROM THE SW, NOR DID A/C OR THE TOWER ADVISE THE PLT OF THE DOWNWIND CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5356P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5356P-1984-03-30), registration cancelled 1984-03-30, S/N 24404 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24404
- Airframe hours: 2982
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dr. Robert Blandin Beans
- Registered owner: Dr. Robert Blandin Beans
- Departed: C, CASPER, WY
- Destination: C, GREAT FALLS, MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Billings-Logan Intl, runway 4, 5,704 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 3,320 total, 370 in this make and model, 3,216 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken
- Temperature: 133 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BIL

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820709026409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820709026409A), Jul 9, 1982: Piper PA24250, Billings, MT, Substantial damage. Caught in unforecast weather. Pilot made downwind landing on downslope wet runway. Aircraft ran off end of runway.

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.

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