Piper PA-11 N4565M

Summary

On 21 June 2003 at about 14:15 local time, a Piper PA-11 registered N4565M, operated by Pilster, Lane R., was involved in an accident near Alzada, Montana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 June 2003 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Alzada, Montana, United States

Coordinates

45.1714, -104.6800

Aircraft

Piper PA-11

Registration

N4565M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Pilster, Lane R.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pilster Ranch → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA03LA111

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate flying airspeed in a turn while maneuvering close to the ground resulting in a stall condition. A contributing factor was the turbulent wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot, who had logged at least 93 hours of flight time in the accident aircraft (total time), was engaged in livestock spotting at low altitude (200 feet above ground) in turbulent conditions with a wind out of the northwest estimated at 20 knots. During a 40-degree angle of bank, right 180 degree turn, the aircraft's angle of bank exceeded 90 degrees and the pilot applied full left aileron and rudder with no effect. The aircraft continued a rolling right descent and when about 80-90 feet above ground, the roll reversed into a left roll during which the left wingtip and nose impacted the ground. The aircraft cartwheeled counter-clockwise 270 degrees to a stop during which the engine separated from the airframe. A post-crash fire consumed the aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.