# NTSB WPR24LA180: Republic RC-3, N87583, Butte, MT, June 5, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 5, 2024, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Butte, MT · Bert Mooney Airport
- Coordinates: 45.954806, -112.49747
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9548&lon=-112.4975&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194403
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194403/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194403
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA180

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff with a gusty left quartering crosswind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during takeoff, the airplane was about 5 ft above the ground when it encountered a gust of wind from the left, which pushed the airplane to the left and it impacted the ground. During the accident sequence, the left wing struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. At the time of the accident, the pilot was departing runway 33, and the wind was from 310° at 16 knots, gusting to 27 knots. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N87583](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87583), registered now, S/N 151, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: REPUBLIC RC-3
- Registry model: [Republic RC-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/republic-rc-3) (registry code 3080202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming GSO&IGSO-480 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-gso-igso-480-series) (registry code 41529, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 151
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 1506
- Engines: LYCOMING GSO&IGSO-480 340 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 30, 2024, 50 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: BTM, Bert Mooney, runway 15/33, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 16 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Turbulence: Severe
- Observed at: KBTM, 1 nm away
- METAR: KBTM 052153Z AUTO 31016G27KT 9SM CLR 22/M03 A3009 RMK AO2 PK WND 32027/2153 SLP143 T02171033 $

## 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 20240605009289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240605009289A), Jun 5, 2024: Republic RC-3, Butte, MT, Substantial damage. Description of the deviation: [privacy data omitted] Was operated on a VFR flight plan. During take-off from runway 33 from kbtm (Bert Mooney field, Butte, MT)…

## Other investigations on N87583 (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX88LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA004), Oct 4, 1987: Republic RC-3 (N87583), Clearlake, CA, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194403. 4.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17516034&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20N87583%20Butte,%20MT_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 854 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17525551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20WPR24LA180%20Butte,%20MT%20N87583-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17923995&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=roc%20pilot-Rel.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.

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