Piper PA-18-150 accident near Great Falls, Montana, March 25, 1989
On March 25, 1989 at about 7:01 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N4273Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Great Falls, Montana (Great Falls International 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMPENSATE ADEQUATELY FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND LANDING DESPITE HAVING BEEN ALERTED TO WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 1989 · about 7:01 pm local time
- Place
- Great Falls, Montana · Great Falls International
- 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
- N4273Z · registry record · serial 18-8520
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER LANDING ON RUNWAY 21, HE WAS CLEARED TO TAXI DOWN THE ACTIVE RUNWAY UNTIL REACHING A TAXIWAY. WHILE TAXIING DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE RIGHT WING LIFTED UP AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND IT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE 20 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 26 KNOTS. THE FAA CONTROL TOWER HAD ADVISED THE PLT OF CURRENT WIND INFO AT INITIAL CONTACT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 182 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,196 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6S8 Laurel MT at 5:15 pm
- Destination: GTF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 10,502 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 20 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from GTF
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.