- Date
- June 5, 1994, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Culbertson, MT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4509YPiper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 12, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940605013869A
- Case key
- 41943
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 directional control. Factors include gusty crosswinds, and a fence near the point of takeoff.
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 attempting a takeoff in gusty crosswinds. His takeoff roll was parallel to a fence on the edge of an open field from which he was departing. Because of the crosswind, the pilot had to hold the right wing down during the takeoff roll. His aircraft was hit by a strong gust just as he was lifting off, and he failed to roll wings-level in time to keep the aircraft from turning to the right and impacting the fence.
Factual narrative
On June 5, 1994, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Piper PA-18, N4509Y, impacted a fence during a takeoff from an open field near Culbertson, Montana. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The FAR Part 91 business flight, which was departing for Wolf Point Airport, Wolf Point, Montana, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.
According to the pilot, his takeoff roll, which was being attempted in gusty crosswinds, was parallel to a fence which ran along the edge of an open field from which he was departing. Because of the crosswind, the pilot was holding the right wing down during the takeoff roll. After being hit by a strong gust just as the aircraft lifted off, the pilot failed to roll wings-level soon enough to keep the aircraft from making a right turn into the fence.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4509Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8936
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Rodenberg, James D.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 31, 1994 · 11 hours before
- Destination
- OLF · Wolf Point, MT
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 923 total · 412 in this make and model · 54 in the last 90 days · 28 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.