DEN84FA042

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20J · Bismarck, ND · December 15, 1983

Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal report
Date
December 14, 1983, 18:41 local (Dec 15, 1983, 00:41 UTC)
Place
Bismarck, ND
Injuries
1 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N1151NMooney M20J
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19831214064159A
Case key
16187

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.

Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionLanding - roll
Airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow coveredFactor
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selectedPilot in commandFactor
Landing gear,normal brake system - frozenFactor
Landing gear,tire - failure,totalFactor
On ground/water collision with objectStanding - engine(s) not operating
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Exterior light(s) - switched off
Landing lights - not usedPilot in commandFactor
Visual lookout - inadequateDriver of vehicleCause

Analysis

The plt of N1151N reported that the departure arpt had some drifting snow which caused the r brake to freeze after takeoff. When the acft was landed, the r tire slid until it wore thru, then deflated. The plt stopped the acft on the rwy, informed tower psnl of the situation & asked them to send someone to help. In the meantime, a Boeing 737 taxied to the rwy. While taxiing, the Boeing aircrew noted the silhouette of the disabled acft, but did not notice any lights. They continued taxiing to the rwy, moved into position for takeoff, but held while waiting for N1151N to be removed fromthe rwy. The plt of N115LN said he left his lights on until he saw the gnd svc vehicle, then turned them off when the vehicle was 'almost to us.' The vehicle occupants reported that the tower had asked them to 'hurry up' & said they were driving about 30 mph. As they proceeded down the rwy, they saw the rotating beacon of the Boeing 737, which they thoughtwas N1151N. They did not see N1151N until after the vehicle hit the acft's l wing.

Aircraft

Registration
N1151N
Reported as
Mooney M20J
Category
Airplane
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Alfred C Pietsch, doing business as Pietsch Flying Service
Departed
FAR · Fargo, ND
Flight plan
VFR/IFR
Airport
Bismarck Muni, runway 31, 8,788 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
24
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Unknown, Unknown
Flight hours
6,000 total · 3,080 in this make and model · 190 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
330° at 10 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
2,700 ft overcast
Temperature
14 °F, dew point 10 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
BIS

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.