# NTSB SEA01LA018: Piper PA-20, N1594A, Great Falls, MT, November 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 12, 2000, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Great Falls, MT - Coordinates: 47.289871, -111.340606 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2899&lon=-111.3406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50626 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50626/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=50626 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA018 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to land on unsuitable terrain. Factors include snow covered terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The private pilot was landing the tail-wheel equipped airplane on a snow covered off-airport landing site. Shortly after touch down, the airplane rapidly decelerated in the deep snow and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On November 12, 2000, about 1515 mountain standard time, a tail-wheel equipped Piper PA-20, N1594A, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport landing site approximately 18 miles south of Great Falls, Montana. The airplane was owned by the pilot, and was being operated as a personal/pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The flight originated at Great Falls International Airport, Great Falls, Montana, approximately one hour and 15 minutes prior to the accident. According to the pilot, he was conducting a practice emergency approach and landing to a remote, snow covered, off-airport landing site. He reported that when the aircraft touched down, in a three-point attitude, the main wheels contacted deep snow on the landing surface and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The airplane's right and left wing sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1594A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1594A-2011-03-23), registration cancelled 2011-03-23, S/N 20-833, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-20 - Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 833 - Airframe hours: 4186 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Raymond D. Fowler - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 19, 1999, 157 hours before - Departed: GTF, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 630 total, 629 in this make and model, 590 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GTF, 18 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 20001112018199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001112018199A), Nov 12, 2000: Piper PA20, Great Falls, MT, No damage. (-23) Pilot misjudged snow depth while landing at a remote snow covered landing site. Main gear contacted deep snow and aircraft nosed over. ## Other investigations on N1594A (2) 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. - [NTSB ANC10CA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA082), Sep 2, 2010: Piper PA-20 (N1594A), Akhiok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while maneuvering at a low altitude. - [NTSB NYC70FFJ16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC70FFJ16), May 4, 1970: Piper PA-20 (N1594A), Moravia, NY, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=50626. - Pilot-operator aircraft accident report NTSB form 61201-2 (item 1, PDF, 6 pages): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14140821&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20NTSB%20Form%2061201-2-Master-Rel.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.