# NTSB GAA18CA372: Beech D17, N61862, Hamilton, MT, June 22, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 22, 2018, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Hamilton, MT - Coordinates: 46.254165, -114.125556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2542&lon=-114.1256&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97555 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA372 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97555/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97555 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA372 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll and his subsequent inability to recover due to his foot being stuck. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane veered right. He added that he was unable to correct with left rudder because his foot had become stuck under the left rudder pedal. The airplane exited the runway to the right, impacted a ditch, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right. He added that he was unable to correct with left rudder because his foot had become stuck under the left rudder pedal. The airplane exited the runway to the right, impacted a ditch, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61862](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61862), registered now, S/N 4877 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech D17 (S) - Registry model: [Beech D17S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d17s) (registry code 1150538) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4877 - Airframe hours: 1650 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2017 - Departed: 6S5, Hamilton, MT - Destination: 6S5, Hamilton, MT - Airport: 6S5, Ravalli County, runway 16, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review June 7, 2017; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,400 total, 3 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KMSO, 40 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 20180622015639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180622015639A), Jun 22, 2018: Beech D17S, Hamilton, MT, Substantial damage. Upon landing airman lost control of aircraft, veered to the right went off the runway hit a ditch and flipped over on its back. After examining the accident… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97555. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466752&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 868 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.