Piper PA-28-151 accident near Near Darby, Montana, September 22, 1982
On September 22, 1982 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N32180, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Darby, Montana (Wilcox-Shook Mt. Resort airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- September 22, 1982 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Near Darby, Montana · Wilcox-Shook Mt. Resort · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N32180 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7515086
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SINCE THE SHOOK MOUNTAIN RESORT AIRPORT WAS NEW TO THE PILOT, HE CALLED THE AIRPORT TO GET FURTHER INFORMATION. HE STATED THAT THE PERSON WHO ANSWERED REPORTED IT WAS A NICE DAY AND THE WIND SOCK HAD BLOWN DOWN. DURING ARRIVAL, HE APPROACHED FROM THE NORTHEAST. HE STATED THAT BEFORE LANDING, THE RUNWAY LOOKED TO BE A BEAUTIFUL 4000 FT PLUS STRIP, BUT DURING THE LANDING, HE NOTICED A FENCE ACROSS WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE RUNWAY. BY THIS TIME, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ROOM TO STOP OR GO AROUND WITHOUT HITTTING THE FENCE. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE SECTIONAL CHART SHOWED THE RUNWAY WAS 2500 FT LONG, BUT HIS FLIGHT GUIDE INDICATED IT WAS 3150 FT LONG. AN INVESTIGATIONREVEALED THAT YEARS EARLIER, THE RUNWAY HAD BEEN NEARLY 4000 FT LONG. THE LAST PORTION OF THE RUNWAY WAS ON A FARMER'S LAND AND HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO OTHER PURPOSES. THE CLOSED PORTION HAD BEEN X-ED AND PILES OF SHRUBS HAD BEEN PLACED ON IT. THE OPEN PORTION WAS 2550 FT LONG. THE PILOT DID NOT CIRCLE OR ENTER A NORMAL PATTERN BEFORE LANDING.
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: 127 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,210 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Missoula MT at 12:00 pm
- Destination: C Darby MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 2,550 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 158°F (70°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.