DEN84LA185

NTSB accident investigation · Piper 601P · Billings, MT · August 5, 1983

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 5, 1983, 14:05 local (20:05 UTC)
Place
Billings, MT
Injuries
6 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N363VAPiper 601P
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830805039239A
Case key
16405

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

In flight collision with terrain/waterTakeoff
Weather condition - high density altitudeFactor
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Aircraft weight and balance - exceededPilot in commandCause
Proper climb rate - not possible
Wheels up landing - performedPilot in command

Analysis

Before starting the flt, the acft was loaded with full fuel, 5 adult passengers & aprx 45 lbs of baggage. The elevation & temp at the arpt were 3606 ft & 93 deg. The plt said he did not calculate the weight & balance or density altitude limits for this flt because he had previously flown this acft under similar conditions & had not encountered any problems. The plt initiated a no flap takeoff, as was required. He reported that the acft was slow to accelerate during the takeoff roll. After lift-off, he retracted the landing gear, but the acft would not climb & began to decelerate. To the plt, there appeared to be insufficient rwy remaining for a wheel landing, so he elected to land with the gear up. An investigation revealed the acft was about 400 lbs over its certificated max gross weight limit & the density alt was 6528 ft. also, the plt stated that the engs & all systems appeared to be working well. The wind was variable & gusting from calm to 5 KTS. Just before starting takeoff, the wind was reported from 070 deg at 5 KTS.

Aircraft

Registration
N363VA
Reported as
Piper 601P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
61PO80480634
Airframe hours
618
Engine
Lycoming IO-540-S1A5, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Registered owner
John R. Glenn
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 16, 1983 · 98 hours before
Destination
FCA · Kalispell, MT
Airport
BIL · Bil, runway 27R, 10,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
44
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
667 total · 129 in this make and model · 603 as pilot in command · 58 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
70° at 5 knots
Visibility
50 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
93 °F, dew point 54 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
GIL

FAA reports on this event · 1

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