Piper PA-38 accident near Trident, Montana, April 20, 2003
On April 20, 2003 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N9705T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Trident, Montana. 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
Fuel exhaustion while in cruise flight due to inadequate preflight planning / preparation. A fence was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2003 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Trident, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N9705T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on a cross country flight to use up the aircrafts fuel in order to perform a weight and balance. The pilot reported that he felt there was enough fuel on board for the trip. Approximately thirty minutes after departure the engine experienced a complete power loss. Following the loss of power, the pilot elected to land in a nearby field. After a "hard" landing and during the landing rollout, the airplane collided with a fence post resulting in substantial damage. During the subsequent investigation both fuel tanks were found to be empty.
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: 1,427 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,334 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 26, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,056 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2002; 26.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HLN Helena MT at 11:00 pm
- Destination: BZN Bozeman MT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from KBZN, 17 miles away
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.