Piper PA-18 accident near Culbertson, Montana, June 5, 1994
On June 5, 1994 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N4509Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Culbertson, Montana. It was a business 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDE GUSTY CROSSWINDS, AND A FENCE NEAR THE POINT OF TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1994 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Culbertson, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N4509Y · registry record · serial 18-8936
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF IN GUSTY CROSSWINDS. HIS TAKEOFF ROLL WAS PARALLEL TO A FENCE ON THE EDGE OF AN OPEN FIELD FROM WHICH HE WAS DEPARTING. BECAUSE OF THE CROSSWIND, THE PILOT HAD TO HOLD THE RIGHT WING DOWN DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS HIT BY A STRONG GUST JUST AS HE WAS LIFTING OFF, AND HE FAILED TO ROLL WINGS-LEVEL IN TIME TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTING THE FENCE.
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
- Flight time: 923 hours in all; 412 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 31, 1994; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OLF Wolf Point MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.