Piper PA-18-150 accident near Baker, Montana, November 7, 1988
On November 7, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N4466Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baker, Montana (Baker-Fallon airport). It was an aerial observation 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
- November 7, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Baker, Montana · Baker-Fallon · 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
- N4466Z · no longer on the register · serial 18-8814
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS LANDING AFTER A PIPELINE PATROL FLIGHT. THERE WERE NO PAX. THE PLT MADE A WHEELS LANDING ON RWY 30 WITH WIND REPORTED FROM 270 AT 28 KTS. DURING LANDING ROLL, A WIND GUST FROM THE LEFT SIDE, ESTIMATED BY THE PLT AS 50 KTS, LIFTED THE LEFT WING AND THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK GRAVEL ON THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT AND THE GUST LIFTED THE TAIL. THE ACFT NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO THE CABIN TOP, RUDDER, PROPELLER AND WING SPAR.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,815 hours in all; 815 in this make and model; 355 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 2,700 as pilot in command; 52 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,460 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 29, 1988; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDY Sidney MT at 3:10 pm
- Destination: BKU Baker MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 28 knots, gusting 50
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°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.