What happened
At 07:46, a non-certificated pilot departed from Laurel, Montana, accompanied by one passenger, operating a Piper PA-18-150. The aircraft's flight concluded at 08:07:22. There were no witnesses to the accident, and the wreckage was located shortly after noon on the same day.
Analysis of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft traveled along a westerly track across +5 degree up-sloped terrain. Ground scars measuring 10 to 11 feet indicated this path, which was followed by propeller slash marks spaced 14 inches apart. These marks positioned the aircraft's longitudinal axis on a west-southwest heading. The engine came to rest 27.5 feet from the propeller slash marks, with the tail oriented along an approximate north/south line.
The investigation
The examination of the wreckage showed that the leading edge of the left wing and the propeller spinner both exhibited aftward compressive damage, which is characteristic of a ground impact. In contrast, the right wing showed no such damage. Fragments of the propeller tip were discovered embedded near the initial slash marks and adjacent to the aircraft's tail.
Investigators found no control discontinuity or mechanical malfunction during the examination of the aircraft. Data recovered from an on-board Garmin GPS III provided 158 data points, including latitude, longitude, and time, covering the period from departure until the moment of impact. This GPS data revealed that the aircraft performed a marked left turn during the final moments of flight.