Accident Overview
On the day of the accident, a Piper PA-18-150 departed Laurel, Montana, at 0746 with a pilot and passenger on board. The non-certificated pilot flew the aircraft until its final position. No witnesses observed the accident sequence.
Wreckage and Impact Evidence
Shortly after noon, the wreckage was discovered. The aircraft had been extensively damaged by fire. Ground scars measuring 10 to 11 feet in length indicated a westerly track along terrain sloping upward at approximately +5 degrees. Propeller slash marks, spaced 14 inches apart, placed the aircraft’s nose (longitudinal axis) along a west-southwest heading. The distance from these slash marks to the engine’s final resting point was 27.5 feet. The aircraft came to rest with its longitudinal axis approximately north-south, with the tail facing north.
Examination of the left wing revealed aftward compressive damage on its leading edge, characteristic of ground impact. The propeller spinner also exhibited aftward compressive damage. The right wing showed no such damage. Propeller tip fragments were found embedded near the ground slash marks and adjacent to the tail.
Mechanical and Control Examination
During the wreckage examination, no control discontinuity or mechanical malfunction was evident.
GPS Data
A Garmin GPS III recovered from the aircraft provided 158 data points, recording latitude, longitude, and time from departure from Laurel up to the point coinciding with the ground impact site. The GPS track showed a marked left turn during the final moments of flight, which ended at 0807:22.