Piper PA-38-112 accident near Townsend, Montana, July 2, 1984
On July 2, 1984 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9826T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Townsend, Montana (Towssend airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- July 2, 1984 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Townsend, Montana · Towssend · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9826T · no longer on the register · serial 3878AO217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WEATHERVANED DURING LANDING IN A CROSSWIND AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND IRRIGATION PIPE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE STUDENT PLT HAD THOUGHT THE LANDING IN A X-WIND WOULD BE GOOD PRACTICE SO HE CONTINUED THE APPROACH BUT AT THE LAST MOMEMT ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND. THE ACFT STALLED AND WEATHERVANED OFF THE RWY. REPORTED WINDS AT TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE FROM 300 DEG AT 15 KTS GUSTING TO 20 KTS.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,823 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 12, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sunbird Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: BZN Bozeman MT at 10:05 pm
- Destination: BZN Bozeman MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 35, 4,100 ft by 72 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.