# NTSB investigations, MT: Hard landing

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR25LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA243.md): Cessna 172N · Ronan, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 8, 2025 · N734SW · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's inadequate landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
- [NTSB WPR24LA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA323.md): Beech J35 · Belgrade, MT · Accident · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Aug 28, 2024 · N8350D · Substantial damage
  > On August 27, 2024, about 1845 mountain daylight time, a Beech J35, N8350D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Belgrade, Montana. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations…
- [NTSB WPR24FA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA132.md): Bell 206-L4 · Anaconda, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Apr 26, 2024 · N988B · Destroyed
  > A total loss of engine power due to a loss of cooling oil to the turbine-to-compressor coupling shaft and subsequent fracture of the shaft at an altitude too low for the pilot to complete a successful autorotation. Contributing to the accident was carbon…
- [NTSB WPR23LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA065.md): Piper PA42 · Lewistown, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 13, 2022 · C-GZPU · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the out of service visual glideslope indicator and snow obscuring the runway markings.
- [NTSB WPR20CA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA173.md): Cessna 170 · Butte, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jun 2, 2020 · N8282A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing in turbulent conditions.
- [NTSB GAA19CA475](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA475.md): Avid Avid Mark IV · Thompson Falls, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 30, 2019 · N4829W · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's failure to go-around after a hard, bounced landing and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a collision with trees at the departure end of the runway.
- [NTSB GAA18CA482](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA482.md): Qac Quickie · helena, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 11, 2018 · N624JC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain yaw control and a proper descent rate during an aborted takeoff.
- [NTSB GAA17CA529](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA529.md): Cessna 182 · Fairfield, MT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 7, 2017 · N735KQ · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to secure the right fuel cap during the preflight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, and an off-airport hard landing.
- [NTSB GAA17CA434](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA434.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 · Bozeman, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 21, 2017 · N28VH · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s unstabilized autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR17LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA143.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Ronan, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 6, 2017 · N442DR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during a low-altitude orbiting maneuver and a subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB GAA16CA406](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA406.md): Cessna 177 · Kalispell, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 31, 2016 · N30550 · Substantial damage
  > The airplane's hard landing during an aborted takeoff, following an encounter with a downdraft during takeoff initial climb from a remote mountain airstrip, resulting in an uncontrolled descent, attempt to land on the runway remaining, and subsequent nose…
- [NTSB WPR16CA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16CA145.md): Beech 19A · Helena, MT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 18, 2016 · N7645R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to reposition the fuel selector valve to the on position prior to takeoff resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to properly complete the pre-takeoff checklist.
- [NTSB WPR16LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA073.md): Cessna T206H · Billings, MT · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 8, 2016 · N562H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to attain a proper flare during landing in gusting wind conditions and low-level wind shear, which resulted in a hard landing and a subsequent loss of directional control.
- [NTSB GAA16CA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA023.md): Cessna 140 · Fort Benton, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 20, 2015 · N76001 · Substantial damage
  > A hard landing which resulted in a loss of directional control, main landing gear collapse, and damage to the left wing spar.
- [NTSB ANC15LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA076.md): Airbus AS-350 · Hamilton, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 4, 2015 · N504WD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's excessive collective application during an autorotation. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the training flight.
- [NTSB WPR13LA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA302.md): S.N.I.A.S. AS-350B Ecureuil · Hamilton, MT · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 1, 2013 · N989WC · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the fatigue failure of a pneumatic fuel controller pipe. Also causal was maintenance personnel’s failure to adequately maintain the pipe and replace it with a thicker type.
- [NTSB WPR13CA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA253.md): Schweizer 300C · Hamilton, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 1, 2013 · N322MH · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during a practice autorotation and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.
- [NTSB WPR13LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA178.md): MD Helicopter 369A · Darby, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 2, 2013 · N369HW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to arrest the landing descent due to his incorrect use of the throttle, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR12CA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA266.md): Cessna 182H · Meadow Creek, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 16, 2012 · N2424X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's misjudged approach and improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR12LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA111.md): Enstrom F28 · Kalispell, MT · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 20, 2012 · N51727 · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB WPR11CA439](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA439.md): Cessna 182D · Roundup, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 5, 2011 · N8772X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle during the landing flare.
- [NTSB WPR11CA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA296.md): Cessna 188 · Glasgow, MT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 14, 2011 · N9802V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB WPR11CA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA101.md): Bell 206B3 · Three Forks, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 15, 2011 · N78BR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate use of throttle during the practice autorotation that resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB LAX08LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA284.md): Cessna TR182 · Spotted Bear, MT · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 28, 2008 · N5523T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate compensation for the variable wind conditions and failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing.
- [NTSB LAX08CA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA182.md): Robinson R44 II · Missoula, MT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 14, 2008 · N272SW · Destroyed
  > The student's inadvertent control interference, which the flight instructor was unable to overcome. A contributing factor was the instructor's poor crew coordination in his failure to verbally command the student to relinquish the controls and his inadequate…
- [NTSB SEA08CA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA121.md): Extra Flugzeugbau EA300/L · Great Falls, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 4, 2008 · N272X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's misjudged landing flare. A contributing factor was the glare from the sun.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'MT' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '092' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent"))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence?state=MT

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