Piper PA-18 accident near Plentywood, Montana, February 14, 1982
On February 14, 1982, a Piper PA-18, registered N4380Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plentywood, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 1982
- Place
- Plentywood, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N4380Z · registry record · serial 18-8703
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON 2/16/82, THE COUNTY SHERIFF RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT THE PILOT HAD WRECKED HIS AIRCRAFT ON 2/13/82. HE WENT TO THE SCENE AND OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT IN AN INVERTED POSITION ON SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. ON 2/20/82, HE RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT THE PILOT HAD ANOTHER ACCIDENT. THE SHERIFF WENT OUT AGAIN AND FOUND THE AIRCRAFT ON ITS TOP ABOUT 2 OR 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE LOCATION OF THE FIRST MISHAP. HE ALSO NOTED THAT THE PILOT'S TRACTORS AND ONE PICK-UP TRUCK WERE LOCATED WHERE A RUNWAY HAD BEEN PLOWED AT THE LOCATION OF THE FIRST MISHAP. A DOCTOR THAT EXAMINED THE PILOT AFTER THE CRASH STATED THAT THE PILOT SAID HE HAD BEEN HUNTING COYOTES. THE PILOT WAS UNCOOPERATIVE IN PROVIDING INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO FAA RECORDS, THE PILOT HAD NO VALID PILOT LICENSE OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. HIS PREVIOUS LICENSE HAD BEEN REVOKED.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
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.