THE DTSB
Pending. Night takeoff with no lighting . Witness reports indicated a very black night and no horizon reference possible.
C-FITAQP: 7) TERRAIN COLLISION
Piper PA-28-180 | N7186W
- DTSB analysis published
Key facts
- DateJuly 17, 2025
- Local time11:55 PM
- LightNight
- WeatherVMC
- Phase of flightInitial Climb
- People on board3
- Fatalities3
- AirportKWYS
Accident Location
- City, State
- West Yellowstone, Montana
- Latitude
- 44.597454
- Longitude
- -111.13096
- Airport ID
- KWYS
Aircraft Info
- N Number
- N7186W
- Make
- Piper
- Model
- PA-28-180
- Category / Class
- Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built
- No
Pilot Info
- Pilot in command
- Conover, Rodney Wayne
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 60
- Certification
- Commercial Pilot
- IFR rating
- Yes
- Medical
- 1st Class Medical
- Flight school
- No
- Instructional flight
- Yes
Analysis
- Weather
- VMC
- Time of day
- Night
- Phase of flight
- Initial Climb
- Pilot error
- Yes
- Pilot incapacitation
- No
- People on board
- 3
- PIC fatality
- 1
- Passenger fatalities
- 2
- Total fatalities
- 3
- NTSB travel
- Unknown
- AQP category
- 7) TERRAIN COLLISION →
Probable Cause
NTSB
None yet (final report not yet published).
Recommendation
THE DTSB
Pending.
NTSB
None issued. NTSB recommendations are rare and usually tied to high-profile accidents.
See the NTSB Recommendation Tracker →