Piper PA-28-140 N2839T

Summary

On 8 June 2012 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N2839T, operated by Raymond E CHATTERTON, was involved in an accident near Sula, Montana, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 June 2012 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sula, Montana, United States

Coordinates

45.7169, -113.9206

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N2839T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Raymond E CHATTERTON

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hamilton → Idaho Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA209

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inability to maintain clearance from terrain while operating in a downdraft over mountainous terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight between 2,000 and 2,500 feet above ground level over mountainous terrain when it encountered a strong downdraft. At full power and at the airplane’s best rate of climb, it was descending 1,500 feet per minute. The pilot stated that he could not turn left because of a mountain and that he was afraid that turning right would result in a greater loss of altitude and a collision with trees. When he was sure that he was not going to clear the terrain, he performed a steep left turn. The airplane subsequently collided with an embankment next to a road with the engine at full power and the stall warning light on.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.