Piper PA-28R N8475C

Summary

On 10 July 2001 at about 16:00 local time, a Piper PA-28R registered N8475C was involved in an accident near Cut Bank, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

10 July 2001 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Cut Bank, Montana, United States

Coordinates

48.6501, -112.8409

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R

Registration

N8475C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Linberg Ranch → Glascow

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA01LA133

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain a speed above stall velocity (Vs) during the after-takeoff climb. Factors include a high density altitude, and a dust devil/whirlwind located along the route of departure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the after-takeoff climb in high density altitude conditions, the aircraft encountered a dust devil/whirlwind that altered its attitude and heading. Although the pilot was able to recover from this upset, the aircraft was then headed for the knoll of a small hill. The pilot therefore raised the nose of the aircraft in an attempt to clear the knoll, but in doing so he allowed the airspeed to deteriorate, and the aircraft subsequently stall/mushed into the terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.