Piper PA-22-150 N24MF

Summary

On 20 February 2003 at about 19:23 local time, a Piper PA-22-150 registered N24MF was involved in an accident near Garryowen, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 February 2003 at 19:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Garryowen, Montana, United States

Coordinates

45.4817, -107.4897

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-150

Registration

N24MF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hardin → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA03LA040

1 person died.

The pilot in command's allowing the aircraft to inadvertently enter into a stall condition at low altitude while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the pilot's intentional low altitude maneuvering.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger departed on a coyote predation flight in the Piper PA-22-150. After shooting one coyote the pilot observed a second coyote approximately 400 yards in front of the aircraft. The pilot made a low altitude pass in a right slip at this second coyote during which the passenger shot and missed, and the coyote dodged to the left. The passenger reported expecting the pilot to turn left, but the aircraft turned right and then impacted the ground. A Garmin GPSMAP295 unit on board at the time of the accident provided latitude, longitude, time and elevation data from the time of takeoff up until the accident. The data showed the aircraft engaging in frequent low altitude turning maneuvers for several minutes before the last recorded target. Post-crash examination revealed extensive damage to the right wing and separation of the right wing from the fuselage. Damage to the left wing was confined to the leading edge outboard section. A moderate upward crush angle from the firewall to the propeller placed the aircraft in a nose low, right wing down attitude upon ground impact. An FAA inspector on site found no evidence of mechanical or powerplant malfunction. Both occupants survived the crash however the pilot expired four days later due to injuries.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.