# NTSB DEN84LA058: Piper PA-32-260, N4830S, Ekalaka, MT, December 31, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 31, 1983, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Ekalaka, MT
- Coordinates: 45.770267, -104.509071 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7703&lon=-104.5091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16314
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16314/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA058

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT DURING TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT HIT AN AREA OF PATCHY SNOW & THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY INTO A SNOWBANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4830S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4830S-2000-05-10), registration cancelled 2000-05-10, S/N 32-1261 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1261
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard & Barbara Elmore
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: 914, Laird Ranch, runway 12, 2,400 × 60 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLS, 50 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 19831231065059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831231065059A), Dec 31, 1983: Piper PA32260, Ekalaka, MT, Substantial damage. Veered off a snow and ice covered private strip on landing. Struck a snowbank.

## Other investigations on N4830S (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC99FA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99FA220), Sep 5, 1999: Piper PA-32-260 (N4830S), Westerly, RI, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during a turn.

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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