Piper PA-22-150 accident near Garryowen, Montana, February 20, 2003
On February 20, 2003 at about 7:23 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N24MF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Garryowen, Montana. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot in command's allowing the aircraft to inadvertently enter into a stall condition at low altitude while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the pilot's intentional low altitude maneuvering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2003 · about 7:23 pm local time
- Place
- Garryowen, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N24MF · registry record · serial 22-3554
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger departed on a coyote predation flight in the Piper PA-22-150. After shooting one coyote the pilot observed a second coyote approximately 400 yards in front of the aircraft. The pilot made a low altitude pass in a right slip at this second coyote during which the passenger shot and missed, and the coyote dodged to the left. The passenger reported expecting the pilot to turn left, but the aircraft turned right and then impacted the ground. A Garmin GPSMAP295 unit on board at the time of the accident provided latitude, longitude, time and elevation data from the time of takeoff up until the accident. The data showed the aircraft engaging in frequent low altitude turning maneuvers for several minutes before the last recorded target. Post-crash examination revealed extensive damage to the right wing and separation of the right wing from the fuselage. Damage to the left wing was confined to the leading edge outboard section. A moderate upward crush angle from the firewall to the propeller placed the aircraft in a nose low, right wing down attitude upon ground impact. An FAA inspector on site found no evidence of mechanical or powerplant malfunction. Both occupants survived the crash however the pilot expired four days later due to injuries.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 900 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,355 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F02 Hardin MT at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from BIL, 49 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N24MF 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.