# NTSB SEA98LA037: Piper PA-11, N947MG, Bridger, MT, February 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 15, 1998, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Bridger, MT - Coordinates: 45.190132, -108.759315 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1901&lon=-108.7593&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42757 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42757/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA037 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a bounced landing recovery. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - recovery from bounced landing - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that he bounced during landing, so he decided to go around and try again. He said he pushed the carburetor heat in and gave the engine full throttle, but the airplane 'didn't want to fly. The left wing started to stall and put me into a left turn. I corrected and the right wing stalled, and I veered off to the right. I bounced across the runway and didn't get the plane corrected before the leading edge of my right wing hit the top strand of a barbed wire fence.' When the wing struck the wire, the airplane rotated 180 degrees and landed in a rubble pile. Winds were calm at the time. ## Factual narrative On February 15, 1998, about 1230 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-11, N947MG, sustained substantial damage after the pilot lost control of the airplane during the first of a planned series of stop-and-go landings on runway 16 at Bridger, Montana. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which was conducted, in visual meteorological conditions. There was no report of an ELT actuating. The student pilot stated that he bounced during landing, so he decided to go around and try again. He said he pushed the carburetor heat in and gave the engine full throttle, but the airplane "didn't want to fly. The left wing started to stall and put me into a left turn. I corrected and the right wing stalled, and I veered off to the right. I bounced across the runway and didn't get the plane corrected before the leading edge of my right wing hit the top strand of a barbed wire fence." When the wing struck the wire, the airplane rotated 180 degrees and landed in a rubble pile. Winds were calm at the time. FAA inspectors found no evidence of preexisting mechanical discrepancies that could have led to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N947MG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N947MG-2018-02-07), registration cancelled 2018-02-07, S/N ED-002, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-11 - Registry model: [Piper / Duke PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-duke-pa-11) (registry code 7101107) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: ED-002 - Airframe hours: 206 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1B 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Ty L. Schwend - Registered owner: Lonnie Sanford - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 24, 1997, 17 hours before - Airport: 6S1, Bridger Municipal, runway 16, 3,400 × 42 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 39 total, 17 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F ## 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 19980215001289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980215001289A), Feb 15, 1998: Piper PA11, Bridger, MT, Substantial damage. Bounced landing lost control. Wing hit fence. Came to rest in pile concrete and rubble. (.4)the student pilot stated that he bounced during landing, so he… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.