- Date
- August 28, 1983, 19:15 local (Aug 29, 1983, 01:15 UTC)
- Place
- Babb, MT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- CFGNBPiper PA-11-90
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 16148
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot said that before takeoff, he fueled the left tank of the aircraft. The right tank was reportedly empty. Five or ten minutes after takeoff the pilot put the acft into a 5 degree left forward slip for about 30 seconds. As soon as the pilot returned the acft to level flight, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted various procedures, but could not restore power to the engine. He made a forced landing on a small pond. As the acft slowed and came off the step, the left float struck submerged willow sticks and sank. The left wing dropped and struck the water. The pilot said that this fuel tank does not have a drain and unless you draw aprx 1 gallon of fuel thru the gascolator, water will not showup.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CFGNB
- Reported as
- Piper PA-11-90
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 11-1027
- Airframe hours
- 1,300
- Engine
- Continental C90-8F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kurt Allen Thomas
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 5, 1983 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- Carway, Alberta
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 200 total · 200 in this make and model · 150 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FCA, 49 nm away