- Date
- August 19, 2006, 15:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place
- Townsend, MT
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4109YBellanca 8GCBC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 26, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20060819017169A
- Case key
- 64726
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 terrain clearance while intentionally maneuvering low to the ground.
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 was performing a low level fly-by to find some of his friends who were camping in the area. A witness reported that the airplane made multiple low passes over open terrain; on the last pass, the left wing struck the ground and the airplane cartwheeled before coming to rest. The pilot reported that the left wing was bent up from the mid-section outboard, and the fuselage was crushed and wrinkled.
Factual narrative
On August 19, 2006, at approximately 1510 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 8GCBC (Scout), N4109Y, was substantially damaged following impact with terrain near Lower Duck Creek Rd., Townsend, Montana. The private pilot, the sole person on board, was seriously injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight which originated from Missoula, Montana, approximately 2 hours, 10 minutes, before the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan.
The pilot said that he was performing a fly-by at Duck Creek to find some of his friends who were camping there. A witness reported that the airplane made multiple low passes over open terrain; on the last pass, the left wing struck the ground. The airplane cartwheeled and came to rest on the ground. The pilot reported that the left wing was bent up from the mid-section outboard, and the fuselage was crushed and wrinkled.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4109Y
- Reported as
- Bellanca 8GCBC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 231-76
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kevin B. Haggerty
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 2005
- Departed
- MSO · Missoula, MT
- Destination
- BZN · Bozeman, MT
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2006
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 642 total · 426 in this make and model · 529 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.18 inHg
- Observed at
- HLN, 30 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.