# NTSB WPR11CA281: Piper PA-36-285, N57736, Havre, MT, June 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 23, 2011, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Havre, MT - Coordinates: 48.540554, -109.673057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5406&lon=-109.6731&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 80868 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80868/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80868 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA281 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had just picked up a load for aerial spraying operations and was taking off on a road. He accelerated to approximately 72 mph with 15 degrees of flaps. The airplane lifted off the road momentarily before settling back down onto the ground. He then lost directional control of the airplane and exited to the left of the road, colliding with a fence. The airplane came to rest approximately 15 to 20 feet from the road. The pilot reported that he thought he may have hit the wake of a second airplane that was working in the area and had taken off before him three minutes prior to his takeoff attempt. According to a weather reporting facility located 10 miles to the south, the wind at the time of the accident was calm. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot had just picked up a load for aerial spraying operations and was taking off on a road. He accelerated to approximately 72 mph with 15 degrees of flaps. The airplane lifted off the road momentarily before settling back down onto the ground. He then lost directional control of the airplane and exited to the left of the road, colliding with a fence. The airplane came to rest approximately 15 to 20 feet from the road. The pilot reported that he thought he may have hit the wake of a second airplane that was working in the area and had taken off before him three minutes prior to his takeoff attempt. According to a weather reporting facility located 10 miles to the south, the wind at the time of the accident was calm and the temperature was 25 degrees Celsius. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57736](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57736-2017-07-12), registration cancelled 2017-07-12, S/N 36-7660053, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36-285 - Registry model: [Piper PA-36-285](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-285) (registry code 7103610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36-7660053 - Engines: Lycoming IO-720 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Barlow Kirk A - Registered owner: Barlow Kirk A - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2011 - Departed: NA, Havre, MT - Destination: NA, Havre, MT - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: NA, None - Road ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2011; seat: single; flight hours: 12,000 total, 160 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 15 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: KHVR, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110623010969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110623010969A), Jun 23, 2011: Piper PA-36-285, Havre, MT, Substantial damage. Aircraft was departing a gravel road behind another aircraft of the same make and model. Pilot states he had made 5 previous takeoffs that day from the road.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80868. 6.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 483 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350740&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Maintenance Record - Courtesy of FAA (item 3, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Record%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Airplane - Courtesy of FAA (item 4, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350741&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF 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.