# NTSB DEN82DA149: Piper PA-28-181, N8997E, Marion, MT, July 29, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1982, 16:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place: Marion, MT
- Coordinates: 48.109222, -114.789627 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1092&lon=-114.7896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82DA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71584/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA149

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - landed at wrong airport - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - directional control - not possible
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS ALSO A RATED PILOT, WERE AT THE CONTROLS. DURING ARRIVAL, THE WIND SOCK WAS CHECKED, BUT NO WIND WAS NOTICED. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT'S HUSBAND LANDED THE PLANE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FLARE WAS STARTED, THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN AND THEN BALLOONED UP. IT TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN, THEN ON THE THIRD BOUNCE THE NOSE GEAR AND PROPELLER HIT THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE GEAR FAILED, THE AIRCRAFT SPUN TO THE LEFT AND THE LEFT GEAR FAILED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8997E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 287690218
- Airframe hours: 3103
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Barbara A. Chigebrow
- Registered owner: Queen Bee Air Specialities, In
- Departed: U56, RIGBY, ID
- Destination: 88J, ALLENDALE, SC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Lost Prairie-Carson Field, runway 30, 4,000 × 70 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 69 total, 6 in this make and model, 32 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 192 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FCA, 28 nm away

## 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 19820729032749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820729032749A), Jul 29, 1982: Piper PA28181, Marion, MT, Substantial damage. Aircraft bounced during landing causing nose wheel and left gear to collapse.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
