# NTSB WPR13CA213: Aviat A-1B, N302MX, Fort Smith, MT, July 2, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 2, 2013, 10:12 local (16:12 UTC) - Place: Fort Smith, MT - Coordinates: 45.302501, -108.136947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3025&lon=-108.1369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 5, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86791 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86791/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86791 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA213 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to land on rough terrain at a high density altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting a wildlife survey flight and had been airborne about 2.5 hours, when the observer said that he would like to take a break. At that time, the flight was over a high mesa covered in short grass, which the pilot decided was a suitable landing area. The touchdown was smooth, but the airplane encountered undulating terrain during the rollout and began to bounce. The pilot added full power to abort the landing, and the airplane's speed began to increase; however, the pilot was unable to take off before impacting a bush. The airplane traveled several hundred feet down a ravine and came to an abrupt stop. The airplane's main landing gear collapsed, and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot estimated that the density altitude at the landing site was about 8,950 feet. He stated that the accident could have been avoided had he "made the decision not to land off-airport in that area at such density altitudes." The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was conducting a wildlife survey flight and had been airborne about 2.5 hours, when the observer said that he would like to take a break. At that time, the flight was over a high mesa covered in short grass, which the pilot decided was a suitable landing area. The touchdown was smooth, but the airplane encountered undulating terrain during the rollout and began to bounce. The pilot added full power to abort the landing, and the airplane's speed began to increase; however, the pilot was unable to take off before impacting a bush. The airplane traveled several hundred feet down a ravine and came to an abrupt stop. The airplane's main landing gear collapsed, and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot estimated that the density altitude at the landing site was about 8,950 feet. He stated that the accident could have been avoided had he "made the decision not to land off-airport in that area at such density altitudes." The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N302MX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N302MX), registered now, S/N 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT A-1B - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1p) (registry code 42259, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2008 - Airframe hours: 4386 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Flightline, Inc - Registered owner: Innes Ranch LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 18, 2013 - Departed: 6S8, Laurel, MT - Destination: 6S8, Laurel, MT - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 2, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 2,379 total, 160 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg ## 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 20130702011189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130702011189A), Jul 2, 2013: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B, Fort Smith, MT, Substantial damage. Note: times, headings, measurements & altitudes are approximate. The aircraft took off from laurel, MT for a low level game survey flight as in the pryor… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86791. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 869 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397760&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Redacted.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.