Piper PA-30 accident near St Ignatius, Montana, August 23, 2022
On August 23, 2022 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 1964 Piper PA-30, registered N4009Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near St Ignatius, Montana (St Ignatius airport). 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 partial loss of power during takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2022 · about 5:45 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- St Ignatius, Montana · St Ignatius · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30, built 1964 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N4009Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-270
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was repositioning the airplane to a local airport for maintenance and an annual inspection. The pilot stated the engine start and runup were normal. During takeoff, shortly after the airplane exited ground effect, the left engine had a partial loss of power. The pilot saw powerlines and, to avoid them, initiated a forced landing on a road just past the end of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that existed before the impact. The pilot reported that the airplane sat idle for several years and he last added fuel to the airplane about 2 years before the accident. A fuel sample from the accident airplane was green in color, consistent with the introduction of copper to aviation grade gasoline, which typically presents after the fuel has been stagnant for over 2 years. Although it’s possible that the condition of the fuel affected its combustion properties, further testing of the accident fuel for combustion could not be completed due to the disposal of the recovered fuel.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel storage › Unknown/Not determined other cases naming the fuel system
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition other cases naming the fuel system
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,046 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 28, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,324 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 5,329 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 5,399 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 7S0 Ronan MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,610 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KMSO, 24 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMSO 231753Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/10 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP160 T02440100 10244 20111 58013
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on September 11, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Email of Follow-up Questions | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record Passenger | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Follow-up Exam Summary | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Fuel Servo Testing Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Factual Email Report for Fuel Testing | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Fuel Analysis Testing Results | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Email Correspondence Regarding Recovered Fuel with Pilot | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Left Engine Logbook Exerpts | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Right Engine Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Tbo Schedule | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Evidence Control Form and Release of Wreckage | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4009Y: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche 880 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,844 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 55 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 55 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- St. Ignatius Airport · nearest airport
- Ronan Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Montana 1,119 since 1982 · 164 in the last ten years
- Montana 6,045 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR22LA313.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.