Piper PA-18-150 accident near Powderville, Montana, May 10, 1990
On May 10, 1990 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N62672, was substantially damaged in an accident near Powderville, Montana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) 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
PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE DURING DESCENT ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION SWATH RUN, RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. THAT THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE PULL UP ALTITUDE IS CONSIDERED A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1990 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Powderville, Montana · 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
- N62672 · no longer on the register · serial 18-7809104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PRIVATE PLT WAS PERFORMING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT NEAR HIS HOME. THE PLT SAID THAT THE FLIGHT WAS ON DESCENT INTO A FIELD FOR A SPRAY PASS. HE SAID THE ENTRY WAS TOO STEEP AND THE PLANE STRUCK THE TERRAIN. HE REPORTED THAT THE LEFT WHEEL STRUCK FIRST AND DAMAGED THE STRUT AND LEFT WING.
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: 1,291 hours in all; 1,271 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,282 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: W.L. Ranch CO.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 3:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N62672 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.