Flight History
On August 18, 2011, about 0925 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, registration N7666D, impacted an open area in mountainous terrain near Forsyth, Montana. Big Sky Wildlife Consultants operated the airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a contract flight to count prairie dogs. The commercial pilot and one passenger were fatally injured; the airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces and post-impact fire.
According to friends of the pilot, the two individuals intended to take pictures of a prairie dog town and conduct a population survey.
Witnesses hunting in the area reported observing the accident airplane fly overhead, descend in a turn below the mountain tops, and then saw smoke.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 39, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane, issued March 1, 2011. He held a second-class medical certificate issued March 11, 2011, with no limitations.
No personal flight records were located; the company and family believed the pilot's logbook was onboard at the time of the accident. The NTSB investigator-in-charge obtained aeronautical experience from FAA medical records. On his most recent medical application dated March 11, 2011, the pilot reported 3,000 total hours with 500 hours in the previous 6 months.
Aircraft Information
No maintenance records were available for review; the family believed they were onboard. According to FAA records, the pilot purchased the airplane on November 15, 2006. An FAA form 337 dated February 23, 2010, documented installation of a Lycoming O-320-B2C engine (serial number 49324-27AC) per Supplemental Type Certificate SA00522SE. The form also indicated continued airworthiness per 100-hour guidelines in Federal Aviation Regulation Part 43.2-43.15.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Examination of the accident site revealed the airplane came to rest upright in an open field on an approximate magnetic heading of 290 degrees. All major structural components were within 30 feet of the main wreckage. A ground scar, 20 inches in length, was located directly under the right wing. An outboard portion of a propeller blade was found next to the ground scar.
Most of the airframe fabric had been consumed by fire, and the instrument panel was likewise consumed. The throttle handle was bent and observed in the full forward position; engine continuity from the throttle handle to the engine was established. The flap handle appeared in the "down" position, consistent with flaps retracted. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to all primary flight control surfaces.
The engine remained partially attached to the airframe and exhibited fire and thermal damage. All four cylinders were attached to the crankcase. The propeller remained attached to the crankshaft flange; both blades exhibited S-bending with chordwise scratching.
Medical and Pathological Information
A postmortem examination conducted on August 19, 2011, by Forensic Medicine and Pathology, PLLC, Billings, Montana, reported the cause of death as smoke inhalation secondary to fire following the airplane crash.
The FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute performed forensic toxicology on pilot specimens; no carbon monoxide, cyanide, volatiles, or tested drugs were detected.