Piper PA-22 accident near Lewistown, Montana, July 1, 2001
On July 1, 2001 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N3251Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lewistown, Montana (Lewistown Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2001 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lewistown, Montana · Lewistown Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N3251Z · registry record · serial 22-7199
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after departure the airplane settled back on to the runway. The pilot attempted to maneuver the airplane back into the air; however, the airplane again began to settle back toward the runway and the pilot aborted the takeoff. He reported that when the aircraft touched down, it veered to the right. The pilot stated that when he applied brakes, the airplane "spun around" and the left main gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest in a wheat field adjacent the departure runway.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 325 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 237 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 26, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,981 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LWT Lewistown MT at 6:30 pm
- Destination: LWT Lewistown MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 6,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from lwt
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N3251Z 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.