Piper PA-28R accident near Cut Bank, Montana, July 10, 2001
On July 10, 2001 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R, registered N8475C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cut Bank, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a speed above stall velocity (Vs) during the after-takeoff climb. Factors include a high density altitude, and a dust devil/whirlwind located along the route of departure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2001 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cut Bank, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R · all PA-28Rs on the register
- Registration
- N8475C · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7635162
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the after-takeoff climb in high density altitude conditions, the aircraft encountered a dust devil/whirlwind that altered its attitude and heading. Although the pilot was able to recover from this upset, the aircraft was then headed for the knoll of a small hill. The pilot therefore raised the nose of the aircraft in an attempt to clear the knoll, but in doing so he allowed the airspeed to deteriorate, and the aircraft subsequently stall/mushed into the terrain.
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: 1,098 hours in all; 923 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 11, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,964 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 2001; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Linberg Ranch MT at 4:00 pm
- Destination: GGW Glascow MT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 235° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.