Piper PA-18 accident near Cody, Wyoming, December 25, 1984
On December 25, 1984 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N1212A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cody, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- December 25, 1984 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cody, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N1212A · no longer on the register · serial 18-825
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT HAD THE ACFT OWNER'S (EMPLOYER) PERMISSION TO USE THE ACFT FOR SOLO PRACTICE TOWARD OBTAINING HIS PRIVATE PLT CERTIFICATE. PLT WAS RANCH EMPLOYEE AND KNEW ONE RANCH MANAGER WOULD BE LOOKING FOR SHEEP, PLT DIVERTED FROM INSTRUCTOR'S RECOMMENDATION TO PRACTICE TAKE-OFFS AND LANDINGS & FLEW TO AREA OF SEARCH. USING ACFT'S ON BOARD LOUDSPEAKER. PLT FLEW OVER MANAGER'S VEHICLE BROADCASTING ANNOUNCEMENT. ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER, ACFT AGAIN FLEW OVER VEHICLE, PLT MADE UNINTELLIGIBLE BROADCAST AND DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW. MANAGER HEARD IMPACT SOUNDS. ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH RIDGE. PLT RECALLED BEING IN A TURN AT IMPACT.
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: 63 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,485 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GEY Greybull WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: 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.