- Date
- June 21, 1990, 21:30 local (Jun 22, 1990, 03:30 UTC)
- Place
- Laurel, MT
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9926DPiper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 9, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900621021469A
- Case key
- 17837
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain proper clearance from other objects wwhile maneuvering.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot of the accident aircraft was giving rides to relatives and friends and flying in close proximity to a companion aircraft at low altitude. The accident aircraft struck trees along the side of a canyon, impacted into the canyon wall, and was destroyed by impact and fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9926D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-6970
- Engine
- Lycoming O-275-C1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John M. Pierce
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 383 total · 30 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BIL, 17 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.