# NTSB SEA74DTA21: Piper PA-22, N648A, Melstone, MT, April 9, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 9, 1974
- Place: Melstone, MT · MELSTONE, MT
- Location: 46.5987° N, 107.8683° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Melstone, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5987&lon=-107.8683&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 186366
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA74DTA21
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74DTA21

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0794   74/4/9  NR.MELSTONE,MONT      PIPER PA-22         CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 19, 33 TOTAL
        TIME - 1100                    N648A               PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BENSON RANCH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         MELSTONE,MONT                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           OVERSHOOT                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED WRONG RUNWAY RELATIVE TO EXISTING WIND
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO INITIATE GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT QUARTERING TAIL WIND 203-247 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           45                                                      180
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- HIT GRAIN ELEVATOR- GUSTING TO 25K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N648A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N648A-2013-04-22), registration cancelled 2013-04-22, S/N 22-51, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Benson Ranch

## 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 19740409007129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740409007129A), Apr 9, 1974: Piper PA22, Melstone, MT, Substantial damage. Hit grain elevator- gusting to 25K.

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.

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