Piper PA-18-150 accident near Lewistown, Montana, December 26, 1986
On December 26, 1986 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N6712L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lewistown, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 26, 1986 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Lewistown, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N6712L · registry record · serial 18-7409112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE MORNING OF THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT THE PRIVATE PLT/OWNER AND HIS FRIEND TOOK OFF ON AN ALL DAY COYOTE HUNTING FLT. WHEN THE ACFT FAILED TO RETURN THAT EVENING AN AIR AND GROUND SEARCH WAS BEGUN. THE BURNED WRECKAGE OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND 3 DAYS LATER ABOUT 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF LEWISTOWN ON OPEN LEVEL PASTURE LAND. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. INVESTIGATIO REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION/FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT.
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: 703 hours in all; 645 in this make and model; 675 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LWT Lewistown MT at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from LWT, 25 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.