Piper PA-20 accident near Laurel, Montana, February 24, 2004
On February 24, 2004 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N7321K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laurel, Montana (Laurel Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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
The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll. Inadequate remedial action was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 2004 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Laurel, Montana · Laurel Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N7321K · no longer on the register · serial 20-221
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that after completing some flight training with his instructor, he then prepared for his first solo flight to accomplish touch-and-go landings. The student stated that the first landing was without incident. During the second landing, the student reported that it was "rough" and he "powered then brought it in again." The landing was soft but the aircraft was sideways to runway heading. The student then reached down to release the flaps and, "As I did I began to wander." The student stated that he only meant to "touch the brakes, but apparently I applied too much." The aircraft then nosed over and came to rest inverted. Post accident inspection of the wheels and brakes found no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 56 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6S8 Laurel MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,775 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from BIL, 11 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.