Piper PA-25-235 accident near Glendive, Montana, June 1, 1982
On June 1, 1982 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N4589Y, was destroyed in an accident near Glendive, Montana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- June 1, 1982 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Glendive, Montana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N4589Y · no longer on the register · serial 25-4270
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD JUST LOADED THE SPRAYER AND HAD MADE ONE PASS DOWNHILL. AT THE END OF THE FIELD, HE STARTED A LEFT TURN TO MAKE AN UPHILL PASS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE GOT INTO BAD AIR OR DOWN SLOPE AIR AND STARTED TO DUMP THE CHEMICAL BUT IT DID NOT HELP. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND, AND AFTER CRASHING, IT BEGAN TO BURN. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT DUSK. THE PILOT SUFFERED A BROKEN ANKLE AND FACIAL LACERATIONS. HE REPORTED THAT HE STAYED AT THE CRASH SITE UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING AND THEN GOT TO A HOSPITAL. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 3200 FT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,990 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 1,357 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Glendive MT at 8:15 pm
- Destination: Glendive MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.