What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On July 17, 2025 at 11:54PM local time, a Piper PA-28-180 cherokee departed west Yellowstone Airport (wys), in west Yellowstone, Montana. On July 18, 2025 at 3:06 p.m. local time, the aircraft was located 5 NM south of wys airport. There were three persons on board the aircraft at the time of the accident. The pilot flying held a private pilot certificate with no instrument rating. Initial review of the ADS-B data and NTSB information show the aircraft departed on the targy one obstacle departure procedure. The aircraft deviation left of course on the odp when another aircraft reported inbound on approach to runway 01. ADS-B data shows the aircraft continued to deviate left of course until it came to rest in a wooded area 5NM south of the airport.
The aircraft was destroyed in the accident. Investigation found the aircraft and pilot documents on board.
The investigation was able to determine that the right seat passenger was also a rated pilot, holding a private pilot without instrument rating.
Contributing factors: none
No indicators of alcohol, drug, or health issues reported at this time. FAA cami directly handling toxicology and autopsy reporting.
No ATC actions contributory to the event.
No recommendations for systemic corrective action.
Action taken to correct problem and prevent reoccurance: no action taken, pilot is deceased.
Sas# NM05202502116
As the FAA filed it
ON JULY 17, 2025 AT 11:54PM LOCAL TIME, A PIPER PA-28-180 CHEROKEE DEPARTED WEST YELLOWSTONE AIRPORT (WYS), IN WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA. ON JULY 18, 2025 AT 3:06 P.M. LOCAL TIME, THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED 5 NM SOUTH OF WYS AIRPORT. THERE WERE THREE PERSONS ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT FLYING HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH NO INSTRUMENT RATING. INITIAL REVIEW OF THE ADS-B DATA AND NTSB INFORMATION SHOW THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON THE TARGY ONE OBSTACLE DEPARTURE PROCEDURE. THE AIRCRAFT DEVIATION LEFT OF COURSE ON THE ODP WHEN ANOTHER AIRCRAFT REPORTED INBOUND ON APPROACH TO RUNWAY 01. ADS-B DATA SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DEVIATE LEFT OF COURSE UNTIL IT CAME TO REST IN A WOODED AREA 5NM SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT.
THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE ACCIDENT. INVESTIGATION FOUND THE AIRCRAFT AND PILOT DOCUMENTS ON BOARD.
THE INVESTIGATION WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE RIGHT SEAT PASSENGER WAS ALSO A RATED PILOT, HOLDING A PRIVATE PILOT WITHOUT INSTRUMENT RATING.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: NONE
NO INDICATORS OF ALCOHOL, DRUG, OR HEALTH ISSUES REPORTED AT THIS TIME. FAA CAMI DIRECTLY HANDLING TOXICOLOGY AND AUTOPSY REPORTING.
NO ATC ACTIONS CONTRIBUTORY TO THE EVENT.
NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION.
ACTION TAKEN TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND PREVENT REOCCURANCE: NO ACTION TAKEN, PILOT IS DECEASED.
SAS# NM05202502116
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.