Piper J3C-65 accident near Richey, Montana, October 9, 1986
On October 9, 1986, a Piper J3C-65, registered N3742Z, was destroyed in an accident near Richey, Montana. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- October 9, 1986
- Place
- Richey, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N3742Z · registry record · serial 6495
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER MAKING A LOW PASS SO THE PASSENGER COULD SHOOT AT A COYOTE, THE PLT INITIATED A RGT TURN TO POSITION THE ACFT FOR ANOTHER PASS. WHILE IN THE TURN, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PLT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER (REAR SEAT OCCUPANT) WAS PARTIALLY OUT THE OPEN DOOR WITH HIS RGT FOOT ON THE WING STRUT. RPRTDLY, THE PASSENGER GOT HIS LEG AGAINST THE CONTROL STICK & THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO ROLL OUT OF THE TURN. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT USING HIS SEAT BELT. HE RECEIVED A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY & COULD NOT RECALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACDNT. THE PLT RECOMMENDED REMOVAL OF THE REAR CONTROL STICK AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PASSENGER INTERFERANCE WITH THE FLT CONTROLS.
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: 588 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,195 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1986; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Richey MT at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 am from SDY, 38 miles away
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.