Piper PA-12 accident near White Sulphur Springs, Montana, August 2, 2010
On August 2, 2010 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3098M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near White Sulphur Springs, Montana (White Sulphur Springs 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 pilot’s loss of directional control while attempting to avoid a herd of antelope crossing the runway during the landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2010 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- White Sulphur Springs, Montana · White Sulphur Springs Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3098M · registry record · serial 12-1784
- 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 after a local area flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the approach and landing was uneventful. As the airplane touched down, a herd of antelope entered the left side of the runway and crossed in front of the airplane. The pilot attempted to swerve to the right to avoid the animals and the airplane ground-looped, substantially damaging the airplane’s left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,084 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,060 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 12, 1998
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2003; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,869 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7S6 White Sulphur Springs MT at 1:00 pm
- Destination: 7S6 White Sulphur Springs MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,200 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KHLN, 52 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N3098M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.