# NTSB DEN87FA216: Great Lakes 2T-1A, N313Y, Bozeman, MT, August 13, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 13, 1987, 12:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place: Bozeman, MT
- Coordinates: 45.770198, -110.929534 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7702&lon=-110.9295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17123
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA216
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17123/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA216

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aerobatics - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - physical impairment(other organic problem), pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - pole
  - object - guy wire
  - object - building(nonresidential)

## Analysis

74-YEAR-OLD PLT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATICS AT SMALL ARPT FOR LOCAL TV NEWS STATION TO PROMOTE WEEKEND AIRSHOW. PLT MADE RIGHT & LEFT PASS, EACH PASS CONSISTING OF SHALLOW DESCENT, PULLUP FROM APRX 150 TO 200 FT AGL, & SLOW ROLL. PLT BEGAN THIRD PASS FROM STRAIGHT & LEVEL ATTITUDE & ROLLED ACFT INVERTED. AT 180 DEG POINT, ACFT YAWED 30 DEG LEFT OF RWY CENTERLINE. AS ACFT ROLLED PAST 270 DEG POINT, IT SIDE-SLIPPED, LOST ALT RAPIDLY, & COLLIDED WITH TELEPHONE POLE, GUY WIRE, & COMMERCIAL BUILDING. PLT EXPIRED APRX 31 HRS LATER. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF ACFT, ENG, PROP, OR FLT CONTROLS FOUND. AUTOPSY & TOXICOLOGY RESULTS WERE NEGATIVE. WX WAS VFR. PLT HAD INNER EAR INFECTION IN LATE 1983. DOCTOR LATER DIAGNOSED IT AS 'BENIGN POSITIONAL PAROXYSMAL VERTIGO.' PLT WAS REPORTEDLY SYMPTOMATIC UP TO TIME OF ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N313Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N313Y-2013-04-11), registration cancelled 2013-04-11, S/N 200, built 1931 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GREAT LAKES 2T-1A
- Registry model: [Great Lakes 2T-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/great-lakes-2t-1a) (registry code 3910106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Warner SS165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/warner-ss165-series) (registry code 64504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 200
- Airframe hours: 1446
- Engines: WARNER R-500-7 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: A. C. Newby
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 1987, 2 hours before
- Departed: BZN, BELGRADE, MT
- Airport: Edsall, runway 29, 2,600 × 80 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 23,933 total, 500 in this make and model, 23,764 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BZN, 7 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 19870813079709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870813079709A), Aug 13, 1987: Grtlks 2T1A, Bozeman, MT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed doing slow rolls for television crew. As aircraft rolled level it hit a pole and building. Vertigo problem.

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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