Piper PA-28-235 accident near Hamilton, Montana, June 5, 1983
On June 5, 1983 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8787W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamilton, Montana (Hamilton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 5, 1983 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Montana · Hamilton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8787W · registry record · serial 28-10334
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
GROUND ROLL DURING TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL BUT AT LIFTOFF THE ACFT BEGAN A ROLL TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT SAID HE BEGAN THE TAKEOFF WITH LESS THAN FULL POWER BUT ADDED FULL POWER AS THE TURN BEGAN. HE TRIED TO CORRECT WITH AILERON TO NO AVAIL. THE ACFT WAS NOW HEADING FOR SEVERAL HANGARS. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND TRIED TO GO BETWEEN THE HANGARS. THE ACFT CLEARED THE TOP OF ONE HANGAR BREAKING A POWERLINE. IT THEN FLEW THROUGH POWER AND PHONE LINES AND WENT THROUGH A FENCE BEFORE STOPPING ON ITS BELLY. THIS ACFT BELONGED TO THE PILOT AND HAD BEEN FLOWN LESS THAN 3 HOURS IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS. THE PILOTS LAST BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW WAS DATED 7/30/74.
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: 1,300 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 1982; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 32S Stevensville MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:47 pm from MSO, 45 miles away
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.