# NTSB DEN84LA208: Piper PA-38-112, N9826T, Townsend, MT, July 2, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1984, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Townsend, MT
- Coordinates: 46.480022, -111.339813 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4800&lon=-111.3398&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16422
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA208
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16422/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA208

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - total, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - throttle/power control - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - object (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WEATHERVANED DURING LANDING IN A CROSSWIND AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND IRRIGATION PIPE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE STUDENT PLT HAD THOUGHT THE LANDING IN A X-WIND WOULD BE GOOD PRACTICE SO HE CONTINUED THE APPROACH BUT AT THE LAST MOMEMT ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND. THE ACFT STALLED AND WEATHERVANED OFF THE RWY. REPORTED WINDS AT TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE FROM 300 DEG AT 15 KTS GUSTING TO 20 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9826T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3878AO217
- Airframe hours: 2823
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Sunbird Aviation Inc
- Registered owner: Emil Erihardt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 12, 1984
- Departed: BZN, BOZEMAN, MT
- Destination: BZN, BOZEMAN, MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 808, Towssend, runway 35, 4,100 × 72 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19840702029319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840702029319A), Jul 2, 1984: Piper PA38112, Townsend, MT, Substantial damage. Tried to go around due to turbulence and crosswind. Dropped tail first onto runway and ran off upwind into a fence.

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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