- Date
- November 15, 1995, 10:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- Seeley Lake, MT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8431DPiper PA-22-160
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 27, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951115036519A
- Case key
- 42310
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 selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. The snow covered runway was a factor.
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 reported that he overflew the runway to try to determine the depth of the snow on the runway. The pilot saw tire tracks next to the runway and thought that the depth was about two inches. The pilot initiated an approach for a landing. During the landing roll, the nose wheel dug into the snow and the airplane nosed over. It was later determined that the snow was five inches deep with a crusty top layer. The airport/facility directory states that the airport was closed at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
On November 15, 1995, at 1020 mountain standard time, a Piper PA- 22-160, N8431D, nosed over during the landing roll at the Seeley Lake Airport, Seeley Lake, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Butte, Montana, on November 15, 1995, at 0830.
During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot stated that he overflew the runway twice to try to determine the depth of the snow that covered the runway. The pilot saw vehicle tracks next to the runway and thought that the depth was about two inches. The pilot initiated an approach to runway 34, and after the airplane touched down and began the landing roll, the nose gear dug into the snow and the airplane nosed over.
It was later determined that the depth of the snow was approximately five inches deep with a crusty top layer.
The Northwest Airport/Facility Directory states that the airport is closed from November-May.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8431D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-160
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-5686
- Airframe hours
- 3,193
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2A, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Larry G. Brewer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 2, 1995 · 18 hours before
- Departed
- BTU · Butte, MT
- Airport
- 23S · Seeley Lake, runway 34, 3,475 × 75 ft, gravel
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
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,240 total · 150 in this make and model · 1,180 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.