Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C-200 accident near Laural, Montana, December 24, 2013
On December 24, 2013 at about 9:10 pm local time, a 2011 Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C-200, registered N41WY, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Laural, Montana (Laurel Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff with a gusting crosswind, which resulted in the collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distraction when the door popped open.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2013 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Laural, Montana · Laurel Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C-200 UNDESIGNAT, built 2011 · all A-1C-200s on the register
- Registration
- N41WY · registry record · serial 3121
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during takeoff with a gusting crosswind, he was surprised by the door popping open as the right wing lifted up. He attempted to level the wings but was unsuccessful. The left wing tip touched the grass beside the runway, the airplane pivoted around and the right landing gear collapsed as it made contact with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing and to the fuselage. The pilot reported no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 328 hours in all; 161 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 328 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 20, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 31, 2012; 62 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1D6 (piston); 160 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6S8 Laural MT
- Destination: 6S8 Laural MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 24 knots, gusting 36
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KBIL, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.