Piper PA-18 accident near Billings, Montana, June 11, 2001
On June 11, 2001, a Piper PA-18, registered N83464, was substantially damaged in an accident near Billings, Montana (Billings-Logan 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 pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2001
- Place
- Billings, Montana · Billings-Logan International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N83464 · registry record · serial 18-7609144
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing his PA-18 tailwheel equipped aircraft on runway 07. Winds at the time of the accident were reported as 020 degrees at 16 knots with gusts to 21 knots. As the aircraft was decelerating a gust of wind picked up the left wing and the aircraft's right wing impacted terrain. The pilot reported to ARFF personnel that he "lost control of the aircraft."
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: 688 hours in all; 164 in this make and model; 629 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 21, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 2000; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BIL Billings MT at 1:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 16 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.65 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.