Piper PA-18-150 accident near Roundup, Montana, September 15, 2026
On September 15, 2026 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1980 Piper PA-18-150, registered N4500W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Roundup, Montana (Back Country Area 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2026 · about 11:00 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Roundup, Montana · Back Country Area · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150, built 1980 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4500W · registry record · serial 18-8009019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,039 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 9U1 Wilsall MT at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from K1NM, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR K1NM 152155Z AUTO 22016G20KT 10SM CLR 19/05 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP165 T01880053 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4500W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4500W on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-18 Super Cub 3,620 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Wilsall Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Montana 1,121 since 1982 · 166 in the last ten years
- Montana 6,041 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N4500W 4 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA348.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.