Piper PA-28-140 accident near Laurel, Montana, August 11, 2022
On August 11, 2022 at about 11:35 pm local time, a 1969 Piper PA-28-140, registered N5780F, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Laurel, Montana (Laurel Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of climb performance due to undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2022 · about 11:35 pm local time
- Place
- Laurel, Montana · Laurel Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140, built 1969 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5780F · registry record · serial 28-25087
- 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, although the airplane’s climb started out fine, shortly after takeoff its performance dropped off. The pilot attempted to return to the airport to land, but was unable to maintain sufficient altitude to reach the runway. He conducted an off-airport forced landing in a field, where the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane’s performance chart indicated that an adequate rate of climb was available given the airplane’s gross takeoff weight and the density altitude that day. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation and, therefore, the reason for the loss of performance could not be determined.
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 engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 62.6 hours in all; 60.1 in this make and model; 19.2 in the last 90 days; 7.8 in the last 30 days; 27 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,096 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 1,199 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HWQ Harlowton MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,199 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KBIL, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBIL 112353Z 36006KT 10SM SCT110 SCT180 34/09 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP133 ACSL DSNT SW T03440094 10356 20300 56013
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 2, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Duty Officer Comments | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Examination Summary Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airplane POH Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.