Piper PA-28-R-180 accident near Cameron, Montana, June 22, 1982
On June 22, 1982 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-R-180, registered N3901T, was destroyed in an accident near Cameron, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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 22, 1982 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cameron, Montana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-R-180 PA-28-R-18 · all PA-28-R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3901T · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30233
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT WHILE CLIMBING OVER RISING TERRAIN IN AN AREA OF FOOTHILLS NEAR MOUNTAINS. HE REPORTED A LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE CREST. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE GEAR EXTENDED AUTOMATICALLY. A TURN WAS MADE OVER A LESSER RISE AND THE LANDING GEAR EMERGENCY OVERRIDE WAS ACTUATED; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO LOSE AIRSPEED AND CRASHED INTO TREES IN A WOODED AREA. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 7000 FT. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS 60 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 273 hours in all; 217 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,069 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 149 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ennis MT at 9:30 am
- Destination: Ennis MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.