# Accident 20250717008489A: Piper PA-28-180, West Yellowston, MT, July 17, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 17, 2025, 11:54 local time
- Place: West Yellowston, MT
- Airport: Yellowstone
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.5975° N, 111.1310° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5975&lon=-111.1310&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7186W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7186W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T0-360 series (registry code 41528, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t0-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING T0-360 SER
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 201 total, 76 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25FA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA214) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250717008489A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR25FA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA214), Jul 18, 2025: Piper PA-28-180 (N7186W), West Yellowstone, MT, substantial damage, 3 fatal, investigation ongoing

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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