Piper PA-18A accident near Trego, Montana, June 8, 2004
On June 8, 2004 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18A, registered N7094D, was destroyed in an accident near Trego, Montana. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure to maintain clearance from trees during the initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2004 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Trego, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A · all PA-18As on the register
- Registration
- N7094D · registry record · serial 18-5584
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the takeoff roll and liftoff were normal, however, shortly after becoming airborne he experienced a lower than normal rate of climb. As the airplane approached the end of the field, the pilot turned to the west toward lower terrain in an effort to clear the approaching tree line. The pilot stated that after initiating the turn, the airplane collided with trees and ultimately impacted terrain in an inverted, nose-low attitude. The departure airstrip is approximately 2,000 feet in length and is bordered by large trees. The field elevation is approximately 2,800 feet MSL. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 30, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 2004; 1.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Trego MT at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KFCA, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA04LA101.