- Date
- July 2, 2002, 19:00 local (Jul 3, 2002, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Heron, MT
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N374DTaylorcraft F19
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 8, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- Case key
- 55197
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain vertical clearance from trees. Factors include tall trees just off the approach end of the runway.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot, who was landing at his 1,400 foot private grass airstrip on a clear day with calm winds, made his "normal approach" to runway 34. As soon as he thought he had cleared the trees off the southeast end of the airstrip, he closed the throttle and pushed the nose of the aircraft down in order to maintain the desired airspeed to the end of the runway. But, when he pushed the nose down, the left wing tip collided with a tree that he had not yet cleared, and the aircraft flipped upside down while about 50 feet above the ground and then impacted the terrain. According to the pilot, there was no indication of any problem with the aircraft's flight controls or engine. He further stated that the only reason for the accident was that he failed to make sure he had cleared the trees.
Factual narrative
On July 2, 2002, approximately 1900 mountain daylight time, a Taylorcraft F19, N374D, collided with trees while on short final for landing at a private airstrip near Heron, Montana. The aircraft was owned and operated by a commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant. The pilot was not injured, however, the aircraft received substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, departed Sandpoint Airport, Sandpoint, Idaho, approximately 90 minutes prior to the accident, and was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.
According to the pilot, it was a clear day with calm winds, and he was making his "normal approach" for landing on runway 34 at his 1,400 foot private grass airstrip. As soon as he thought he had cleared the trees off the southeast end of the airstrip, he closed the throttle and pushed the nose of the aircraft down in order to maintain the desired airspeed to the end of the runway. But, when he pushed the nose down, the left wing tip collided with a tree that he had not yet cleared, and the aircraft flipped upside down while about 50 feet above the ground and then impacted the terrain.
According to the pilot, there was no indication of any problem with the aircraft's flight controls or engine. He further stated that the only reason for the accident was that he failed to make sure he had cleared the trees.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N374D
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft F19
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- F108
- Airframe hours
- 970
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Douglas C. Compton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 12, 2002 · 42 hours before
- Departed
- SZT · Sandpoint, MT
- Destination
- Heron, MT
- Airport
- Blue C Ranch, runway 34, 1,400 × 60 ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- November 2, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,012 total · 77 in this make and model · 902 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 309 KB in all.