Piper PA18-135 accident near Cohagen, MT
On December 5, 1996, a Piper PA18-135 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cohagen, MT. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 5, 1996
- Place
- Cohagen, MT
- Aircraft
- Piper PA18-135 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 47.091°N, 106.620°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07245
NTSB summary
On December 5, 1996, approximately 1500 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18-135, N62100, being flown by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a collision with terrain near Cohagen, Montana. The pilot and the only passenger received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed in the area and no flight plan had been filed. The flight had originated from a road on the pilot's ranch about 1430. The purpose of the flight was to survey animals and possibly shoot coyotes. When the flight did not return, family members contacted local authorities who initiated a search for the airplane. The wreckage was located about 12 miles south of Cohagen, by a snowmobile, on December 12, 1996. The airplane was equipped with "tundra" tires. The airplane wreckage was examined on December 13 by the FAA and representatives from the New Piper Aircraft Company and Textron Lycoming. The first evidence of ground impact was a ground scar with red glass at the scar. About 9 feet beyond this point was the propeller. The main wreckage was about 65 feet from the initial ground scar and was extensively burned. The engine was rotated and compression observed in the cylinders. The accessories were not checked due to fire damage. One propeller blade had an aft bend, chordwise abrasions and chordwise scratching. The other blade was relatively straight with only light damage. Control continuity was established for the flight controls. The flaps were retracted. Actual gross weight of the aircraft was not determined. However, using estimated weights of 170 pounds for the pilot,
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. Factors were the intentional flight at a low altitude and the over gross condition of the airplane.
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Browse: Montana · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
