# NTSB SEA00LA151: Kokenge Glastar, N4350K, Butte, MT, August 2, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 2000, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Butte, MT - Coordinates: 45.999328, -112.440917 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9993&lon=-112.4409&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49880 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49880/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA151 ## Probable cause A loss of aircraft control for undetermined reasons. ## Analysis Witnesses reported that they observed the airplane begin its takeoff roll on runway 33 from taxiway E. They stated that after becoming airborne, the airplane got about 50 to 60 feet in the air, then made a sharp right turn. The witnesses stated that the airplane '[took] a nosedive' or 'nosed into the ground' when it made this sharp right turn. The aircraft impacted the ground and came to rest just east of the intersection of runways 15/33 and 11/29. A post-crash fire ensued; however, the aircraft occupants were moved to safety by responding emergency personnel. The pilot reported to the NTSB that he had little recollection of the accident sequence. Investigators did not determine the reason for the sharp right turn and nose drop to ground impact observed by the witnesses. A report by the responding FAA inspector stated that the aircraft's engine was producing power at impact. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 2000, approximately 1020 mountain daylight time, a Kokenge Glastar experimental-category airplane, N4350K, was destroyed in a collision with terrain following takeoff from runway 33 at Bert Mooney Field, Butte, Montana. The private pilot-in-command and his passenger received serious injuries in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the FAA did not indicate any record of the aircraft filing a flight plan for the 14 CFR 91 personal flight bound for Yakima, Washington. Witnesses reported that they observed the airplane begin its takeoff roll on runway 33 from taxiway E. They stated that after becoming airborne, the airplane got about 50 to 60 feet in the air, then made a sharp right turn. The witnesses stated that the airplane "[took] a nosedive" or "nosed into the ground" when it made this sharp right turn. The aircraft impacted the ground and came to rest just east of the intersection of runways 15/33 and 11/29. A post-crash fire ensued; however, the aircraft occupants were moved to safety by responding emergency personnel. The pilot reported to the NTSB that he had little recollection of the accident sequence. Investigators did not determine the reason for the sharp right turn and nose drop to ground impact observed by the witnesses. A report by the responding FAA inspector, from the Helena, Montana Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), stated that the aircraft's engine was producing power at impact. According to one witness, an airport weather observer who had just taken an hourly observation, the weather conditions at the time of the accident were: temperature 79 degrees F, winds variable at 5 knots, few clouds at 10,000 feet, few clouds at 15,000 feet, and visibility 25 statute miles with haze. Based on a pressure altitude equal to Mooney Field's elevation of 5,545 feet above sea level and temperature of 79 degrees F, density altitude at the time was computed to be approximately 8,000 feet. According to U.S. Government flight information publications, runway 33 is a 9,000 foot long by 150 foot wide grooved asphalt runway. Approximately 7,070 feet are available for an intersection takeoff from taxiway E. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - weather condition - high density altitude - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4350K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4350K-2000-11-01), registration cancelled 2000-11-01, S/N 5006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kokenge GLASTAR - Registry model: [Kokenge Roy F GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/kokenge-roy-f-glastar) (registry code 05606OM) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5006 - Airframe hours: 106 - Engines: LOM XM332B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roy F. Kokenge - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, June 8, 2000, 59 hours before - Departed: BTM - Destination: YKM, YAKIMA, WA - Airport: BTM, Bert Mooney, runway 33, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 809 total, 106 in this make and model, 605 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 13 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F ## 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 20000802010159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000802010159A), Aug 2, 2000: Amtr GLASTAR, Butte, MT, No damage. (-23) At approximately 10:40, on 8/2/00, Glastar N4350K began takeoff roll on runway 33 from taxiway echo in Butte, Montana (btm). At approximately 50-60 feet… 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.