Piper PA-22-150 accident near Missoula, Montana, May 3, 1987
On May 3, 1987 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N7511D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Missoula, Montana (Missoula County airport). 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
- May 3, 1987 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Missoula, Montana · Missoula County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7511D · no longer on the register · serial 225238
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PLT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. WHILE ON A TAKEOFF ROLL, A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE RIGHT WING AND PUSHED THE ACFT OFF THE RWY TO THE LEFT. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE ACFT TAXIED THROUGH HIGH GRASS PARALLEL TO THE RWY. THE NOSE WHEEL STRUCK A CLUMP OF EARTH AND COLLAPSED. THE ACFT NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PLT STATED THAT HE NEEDED MORE CROSSWIND TAKEOFFS AND LANDING.
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: 98 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 44 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,448 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 1987; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,840 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSO Missoula MT at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 9,499 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.
Other NTSB records under N7511D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.