Piper PA-18-150 accident near Missoula, Montana, January 11, 1994
On January 11, 1994 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N82166, was substantially damaged in an accident near Missoula, Montana (Missoula International airport). 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/PASSENGER'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 1994 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Missoula, Montana · Missoula International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N82166 · registry record · serial 18-7809137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE REAR SEAT PILOT/PASSENGER ALLOWED THE TAIL WHEELED AIRCRAFT TO DIVERGE FROM THE CENTERLINE. THE PILOT IN COMMAND TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT A GROUND LOOP, BUT FAILED TO PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT FROM IMPACTING A FRANGIBLE TAXIWAY DIRECTION SIGN LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF TAXIWAY 'D' AND RUNWAY 25.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,733 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 5,340 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,511 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1993; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Minuteman Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,612 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from MSO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.