Piper PA-18-150 N7666D

Summary

On 18 August 2011 at about 15:25 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N7666D, operated by Cyrus Chad H DBA, was involved in an accident near Forsyth, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 August 2011 at 15:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Forsyth, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Frank Wiley Field (MLS)

Coordinates

46.5783, -106.9225

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N7666D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Cyrus Chad H DBA

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Miles City → Miles City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11FA390

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall/mush, loss of control, and impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The operator reported that the pilot and passenger were going to survey a prairie dog town and take pictures. Hunters in the accident area observed the airplane fly overhead and descend below mountainous terrain while in a turn. The airplane crashed in an open field. The airplane damage and the ground scars at the accident site were consistent with the airplane being in a stalled condition at the time of the accident. The pilot likely failed to maintain adequate airspeed as he was increasing the bank angle to maintain visual reference to the ground, which resulted in a stall/mush, loss of control, and collision with terrain. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.