Piper PA-11-90 accident near Babb, Montana, August 29, 1983
On August 29, 1983 at about 1:15 am local time, a Piper PA-11-90, registered CFGNB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Babb, Montana. 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
- August 29, 1983 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Babb, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-11-90 · all PA-11-90s on the register
- Registration
- CFGNB · no longer on the register · serial 11-1027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT BEFORE TAKEOFF, HE FUELED THE LEFT TANK OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE RIGHT TANK WAS REPORTEDLY EMPTY. FIVE OR TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT PUT THE ACFT INTO A 5 DEGREE LEFT FORWARD SLIP FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. AS SOON AS THE PILOT RETURNED THE ACFT TO LEVEL FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED VARIOUS PROCEDURES, BUT COULD NOT RESTORE POWER TO THE ENGINE. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A SMALL POND. AS THE ACFT SLOWED AND CAME OFF THE STEP, THE LEFT FLOAT STRUCK SUBMERGED WILLOW STICKS AND SANK. THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND STRUCK THE WATER. THE PILOT SAID THAT THIS FUEL TANK DOES NOT HAVE A DRAIN AND UNLESS YOU DRAW APRX 1 GALLON OF FUEL THRU THE GASCOLATOR, WATER WILL NOT SHOWUP.
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 sea
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,300 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 5, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Carway, Alberta at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.