Piper PA-18-150 accident near Glenrock, Wyoming, April 14, 1987
On April 14, 1987 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N1851P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glenrock, Wyoming. It was a personal 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
- April 14, 1987 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Glenrock, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N1851P · no longer on the register · serial 1019-27
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PLT PLANNED A TAKEOFF FROM THE UNIMPROVED RANCH RWY FOR A LOCAL FLT. ELEVATOR TRIM WAS NOT SET FOR TAKEOFF ACCORDING TO THE PLT. WHEN THE TAILWHEEL CAME UP DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ACFT SWERVED LEFT, AND THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH RUDDER. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. A GROUND LOOP RESULTED IN WING CONTACT WITH THE RWY. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE RIGHT WING AND RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR.
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: 120 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 63 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 5, 1986; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.