Piper PA-16 N5942H

Summary

On 20 July 2005 at about 18:15 local time, a Piper PA-16 registered N5942H, operated by Patricia H. Bruck, was involved in an accident near Park City, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 July 2005 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Park City, Montana, United States

Coordinates

45.6731, -108.8700

Aircraft

Piper PA-16

Registration

N5942H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Patricia H. Bruck

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kellog → Laurel

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA05CA148

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane on the takeoff roll. Factors contributing to the accident included the loose gravel, ditch, and the fence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

After measuring the north-south gravel road's width as being 36 feet, and noting that her airplane's wingspan was 30 feet, the pilot elected to takeoff south on the crowned, downhill road with telephone wires bordering it on the east. Staying to the right during the takeoff roll on the loose gravel, the pilot got off into a bordering ditch, then into the adjoining wheat field before ground looping across the road and impacting a fence. The outboard left wing, left forward wing lift strut, left landing gear, and propeller were damaged.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.