# NTSB DEN83LA066: Piper PA-38-112, N9929T, Cut Bank, MT, February 25, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 25, 1983, 14:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place: Cut Bank, MT
- Coordinates: 48.649177, -112.839302 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6492&lon=-112.8393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16043
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16043/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA066

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, takeoff
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, takeoff
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT NOSED OVER AFTER OVERRUNNING THE END OF THE RUNWAY DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF. THE RUNWAY WAS GRASS AND THERE WAS A 90 DEGREE CROSSWIND. DURING TAKEOFF A DOWNDRAFT PUT THE ACFT BACK ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND RETARDED THE THROTTLE. THE ACFT WAS ALLOWED TO ROLLOUT OFF THE PREPARED AREA INTO A STUBBLE FIELD AND SOFT TERRAIN WHERE THE NOSE GEAR SANK IN AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9929T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3878A0253
- Airframe hours: 410
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mountain Flyers, Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 1982, 0 hours before
- Airport: Lindberg, runway 9, 2,600 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 670 total, 28 in this make and model, 563 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F

## 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 19830225005519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830225005519A), Feb 25, 1983: Piper PA38112, Cut Bank, MT, Substantial damage. Aircraft ran off end of runway and flipped inverted after aborted takeoff.

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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