# NTSB DEN84LA185: Piper 601P, N363VA, Billings, MT, August 5, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 5, 1983, 14:05 local (20:05 UTC)
- Place: Billings, MT
- Coordinates: 45.649612, -108.380714 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6496&lon=-108.3807&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16405
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16405/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA185

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper climb rate - not possible
  - wheels up landing - performed, pilot 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER 601P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 61PO80480634
- Airframe hours: 618
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 44; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830805039239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830805039239A), Aug 5, 1983: Piper PA60601P, Billings, MT, Substantial damage. Unable to accelerate after liftoff. Aborted and landed gear up on remaining runway. Was 300 lbs over gross weight.

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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