Piper PA-28-140 accident near Hysham, Montana, May 20, 1997
On May 20, 1997 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N32142, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hysham, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A failure of an engine exhaust valve and the pilot's misjudgement of altitude/distance during an emergency landing at an airstrip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1997 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hysham, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N32142 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7525027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, he heard a 'pop' from the engine and then felt a vibration. The engine lost partial power and the pilot tried to troubleshoot to find the problem. The pilot was unable to identify the problem and maneuvered the airplane to a nearby airstrip. The pilot stated that he tried twice to land on the 2,950-foot-long airstrip, however, each time the airplane's altitude was too high. The pilot opted to divert to an open field where he maneuvered the airplane to avoid obstructions. During the landing, the landing gear was sheared off and the wings were structurally damaged. During the postcrash inspection of the engine, the number three exhaust valve was found broken at the neck. The head of the valve was found lodged in the exhaust manifold.
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: 359 hours in all; 18 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,470 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 1996; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLS Miles City MT at 4:30 pm
- Destination: BIL Billings MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from BIL, 63 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.