Maule M-4-180V accident near Lewistown, Montana, September 11, 2006
On September 11, 2006, a Maule M-4-180V, registered N786ST, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lewistown, Montana (Spear T Ranch airport). 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
The airplane inadvertently impacted a coyote hole during the landing roll on unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2006
- Place
- Lewistown, Montana · Spear T Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-180V · all M-4-180Vs on the register
- Registration
- N786ST · registry record · serial 47003T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that he taxied the full length of the runway before takeoff, but did not notice the coyote hole. Upon landing, he said he hit something "hard" immediately after touchdown. The pilot performed a go-around, landed, and taxied to the hangar uneventfully. Post impact inspection revealed wrinkled skin under the left door. After removing the seats, it was determined that the carry-thru structure was bent.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 704 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C4F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Lewistown MT at 11:55 pm
- Destination: NONE Lewistown MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 260
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from LWT
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.