Piper PA-18-135 accident near Marion, Montana, April 23, 2003
On April 23, 2003, a Piper PA-18-135, registered N60733, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marion, Montana (Carson Field). 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
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll resulting in the aircraft leaving the runway, crossing a ditch and collapsing the landing gear. A contributing factor was the ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2003
- Place
- Marion, Montana · Carson Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-135 · all PA-18-135s on the register
- Registration
- N60733 · registry record · serial 18-3366
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner of the Piper PA-18-135, accompanied by his wife, was taking off from runway 12, a turf/grass strip, at Marion, Montana. Winds were light and out of the southeast at the time. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll he lost directional control of the aircraft, which then departed the runway crossing a ditch and collapsing the main landing gear. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft during the event.
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: 168 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 988 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 23, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2003; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MT53 Marion MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,600 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.54 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from FCA, 27 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 N60733 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.