What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Acft landed on the Missouri river due to adverse weather, Williston, ND. (-23) departed poplar, Montana at 0845 for bismarck, ND (aircraft was being ferried to haines, FL) on 10/11/97 in PA18-150 with floats. Operator was following the Missouri river as a route. Weather had been deteriorating and getting progressively worse. Pilot opted to land the aircraft on the river by a boat landing due to very poor visibility, this was approximately 25 miles from Williston, ND. Upon landing, a/c right float hit and was punctured by river debris. A/c nosed over, pilot managed to get out and to safety. A/c drifted down river, until it was secured to a tree by a local fisherman.
As the FAA filed it
ACFT LANDED ON THE MISSOURI RIVER DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER, WILLISTON, ND. (-23) DEPARTED POPLAR, MONTANA AT 0845 FOR BISMARCK, ND (AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FERRIED TO HAINES, FL) ON 10/11/97 IN PA18-150 WITH FLOATS. OPERATOR WAS FOLLOWING THE MISSOURI RIVER AS A ROUTE. WEATHER HAD BEEN DETERIORATING AND GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. PILOT OPTED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON THE RIVER BY A BOAT LANDING DUE TO VERY POOR VISIBILITY, THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES FROM WILLISTON, ND. UPON LANDING, A/C RIGHT FLOAT HIT AND WAS PUNCTURED BY RIVER DEBRIS. A/C NOSED OVER, PILOT MANAGED TO GET OUT AND TO SAFETY. A/C DRIFTED DOWN RIVER, UNTIL IT WAS SECURED TO A TREE BY A LOCAL FISHERMAN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N9691P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.