The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB DEN06CA073 · Final report

Piper PA-18-150 accident near Cody, Wyoming, May 7, 2006

On May 7, 2006 at about 12:52 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N6083A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cody, Wyoming. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a parked vehicle during the approach to land on a dirt road. Contributing factors were the pilot's improper decision to land near an unsuitable landing area, and the parked vehicle.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
May 7, 2006 · about 12:52 pm local time
Place
Cody, Wyoming · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
Registration
N6083A · registry record · serial 18-8009048
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot was attempting to clear the top of a power line and land on a ranch dirt road. During the approach, "[the airplane] started to sink." The pilot increased engine power; however, the airplane "wasn't going to make it over" the power line. The airplane flew under the power line, and subsequently, the left wing impacted a parked vehicle. The airplane skidded approximately 300 feet and came to rest upright.

The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 330 hours in all; 265 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 3

The aircraft

  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: Cody WY at 12:00 pm
  • Destination: Cody WY
  • Flight plan: none

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.

Other NTSB records under N6083A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

1988-07-12DEN88LA154 · accident near Cody, WY · substantial damage · no injuries
1984-07-20DEN84LA228 · accident near Meeteetse, WY · substantial damage · no injuries

Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.