# Accident 20250831014499A: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, Red Lodge, MT, August 31, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 2025, 10:45 local time
- Place: Red Lodge, MT
- Airport: Red Lodge
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.1776° N, 109.2557° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1776&lon=-109.2557&mi=10
- Aircraft: N45254, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45254) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 (registry code 6120202, https://openairdocs.org/model/naval-aircraft-factory-n3n-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NAVAL AIRCRAFT FACTORY N3N-3
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 4,641 total, 406 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA271) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250831014499A

## Narrative

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

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVIATION:

WHILE OPERATING^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AN N3N-3 AIRPLANE ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN AND UPON APPROACH TO LANDING ON SOD RWY 16 AT THE RED LODGE, MT AIRPORT (KRED) THE PILOT INITIATED A GO-AROUND AFTER A HARD BOUNCE ON THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT TIRE OF THE MAIN GEAR CLIPPED A BARBED WIRE FENCE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR HIT A POWERLINE WIRE APPROXIMATELY 500’ FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN A CRASH WITH MINOR INJURIES TO THE PILOT AND PASSENGER AND THE AIRCRAFT BEIND DESTROYED.

CAUSAUL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD INTENDED TO LAND A BIT LONG TO AVOID ROLLING OVER A PAVED TAXI WAY THAT CROSSED THE GRASS RUNWAY. UPON INITIATION OF THE GO-AROUND THE AIRCRAFT DIDN'T RESPOND AS EXPECTED DUE TO HIGH DA. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD MADE LOW APPROACHES TO THE RED LODGE AIRPORT, HOWEVER, HE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY LANDED THERE. INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS OUT OF ANNUAL INSPECTION WHICH WAS LAST COMPLETED IN MAY, 2024. PILOT WAS CURRENT AND FLYING ON BASIC MED.

NO ATC ACTIONS CONTRIBUTORY TO THE EVENT.

NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION.

ACTION TAKEN TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND PREVENT REOCCURANCE:

COMPLIANCE ACTION – COUNSELING. THE PILOT WAS COUNSELED ON AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE AND POWER MANAGEMENT AT HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AERONAUTICAL DECISION MAKING AND AIRCRAFT ANNUAL INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS.

SAS ID: NM05202600151

## 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 WPR25LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA271), Aug 31, 2025: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 (N45254), Red Lodge, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude weather condition.

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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