# NTSB DEN85LA085: Piper PA-18, N8676C, Polson, MT, February 25, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 24, 1985, 17:00 local (Feb 25, 1985, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Polson, MT
- Coordinates: 47.720539, -114.209403 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7205&lon=-114.2094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16641
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16641/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA085

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - from landing
  - terrain condition - snowbank
- Nose over, taxi - from landing

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED A 35 KT GUST OF WIND FROM THE NORTH LIFTED THE TAIL OF THE ACFT TO THE LEFT. THE ACFT VEERED RIGHT, CONTACTED A SNOW BANK AND NOSED OVER. THE PLT WAS TAXIING ON RWY 18 AFTER LANDING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8676C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8676C), registered now, S/N 18-2821 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-2821
- Airframe hours: 4448
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stene Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 1984, 75 hours before
- Airport: 8S1, Polson, runway 18, 4,200 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 562 total, 6 in this make and model, 98 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 3 statute miles

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850224007949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850224007949A), Feb 24, 1985: Piper PA18135, Polson, MT, Substantial damage. Wind shifted and picked up tail of taxiing aircraft, veered off to one side into snowbank. Aircraft nosed over.

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.

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