# Accident 20250619006859A: Cessna 172K, Billings, MT, June 19, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 19, 2025, 14:16 local time
- Place: Billings, MT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.6353° N, 108.5274° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6353&lon=-108.5274&mi=10
- Aircraft: N79306, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172K (registry code 2072430, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25FA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA182) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250619006859A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON JUNE 19, 2025 A PRIVATELY OPERATED CESSNA 172, WITH ONE PILOT ON BOARD, WAS FLYING NEAR BLUE CREEK ROAD SOUTH OF BILLINGS, MONTANA. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES, FLIPPED, AND CAUGHT FIRE AROUND 2000 UTC.

AN INVESTIGATION WAS INITIATED ON JUNE 20, 2025.  BASED UPON PICTURES AND DATA GATHERED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE REAR FUSELAGE AND TAIL, THE WINGS, AILERONS AND FLAPS WERE NOT BURNED.  THE RIGHT WING HAD VERTICAL DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE ROUGHLY THE SAME DISTANCE APART AS THE POWER LINE WIRES LOCATED 35 FEET ABOVE. THE AIRFRAME AND WINGS OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED SIGNS OF TWISTING IN A DIRECTION INDICATING A STALL/SPIN. CASUAL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: ADS-B DATA WAS REVIEWED AND INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING AT ALTITUDES RANGING FROM 50 TO 100 FEET AGL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NO INDICATORS OF ALCOHOL, DRUG, OR HEALTH ISSUES REPORTED AT THIS TIME. FAA CAMI DIRECTLY HANDLING TOXICOLOGY AND AUTOPSY REPORTING. NO ATC ACTIONS CONTRIBUTORY TO THE EVENT. NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION. ACTION TAKEN TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND PREVENT REOCCURANCE: NO ACTION TAKEN, PILOT IS DECEASED. SAS ID: NM05202501941

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR25FA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA182), Jun 19, 2025: Cessna 172 (N79306), Billings, MT, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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