# NTSB investigations, MT: Loss of control in flight

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.

Page 1 of 2 · 56 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR26LA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA360.md): Cessna A185F · Livingston, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Investigation open · Sep 26, 2026 · N185BZ · Substantial damage
- [NTSB WPR26LA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA344.md): Taylorcraft BC12D · Nibbe, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Investigation open · Sep 14, 2026 · N96888 · Substantial damage
- [NTSB WPR26LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA055.md): Maule M-5-210C · Eureka, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 9, 2025 · N339X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in crosswind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent flight experience.
- [NTSB WPR26FA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA032.md): Cirrus Design SR22T · Lincoln, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Oct 25, 2025 · N740TS · Destroyed
  > On October 24, 2025 at 2115 mountain daylight time, a Cirrus SR22T, N740TS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lincoln, Montana. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)…
- [NTSB WPR25LA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA239.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Ponderosa Pines, MT · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 3, 2025 · N750GT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper pedal application during an approach to a hover.
- [NTSB WPR24LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA307.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Basin, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 15, 2024 · N233WT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to continue performing a high-performance takeoff in a full throttle and low-rotor-rpm condition, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR24FA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA238.md): Air Tractor AT-802A · Helena, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 10, 2024 · N10122 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of situational awareness during the water scoop due to task overload while operating in a multi-airplane tactical firefighting environment, which resulted in the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and the airplane’s collision…
- [NTSB WPR24LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA180.md): Republic RC-3 · Butte, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 5, 2024 · N87583 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff with a gusty left quartering crosswind.
- [NTSB WPR24LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA152.md): Cessna 182H · Three Forks, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 10, 2024 · N2388X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in an attempted departure with the flight control lock device installed, and subsequent nose landing gear collapse.
- [NTSB WPR23FA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA286.md): Risen 915 iS · Glendive, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 28, 2023 · N2442 · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin.
- [NTSB WPR23LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA087.md): Raytheon BE-200 · Poplar, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 18, 2023 · N200EJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in an impact with terrain short of the runway threshold.
- [NTSB WPR21FA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA258.md): Cessna 172R · Missoula, MT · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 1, 2021 · N2388L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for recovery.
- [NTSB WPR20LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA245.md): Cessna 337 · Ennis, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 30, 2020 · N337V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot-in-command’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed while attempting an evasive maneuver from a boxed canyon, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and impact with mountainous terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot-in-command’s…
- [NTSB WPR20CA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA217.md): Cessna 182 · Absarokee, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 8, 2020 · N7726M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around that resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and aerodynamically stalling which resulted in a collision with the ground.
- [NTSB WPR20CA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA166.md): Aviat A 1 · Glendive, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jun 3, 2020 · N8QT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing in gusting wind condition which resulted in a collision with terrain.
- [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 WPR19FA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA209.md): Cessna 182 · Wolf Point, MT · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 5, 2019 · N3469R · Destroyed
  > The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering to land, which resulted in an accelerated aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control.
- [NTSB WPR19LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA194.md): Bell 47G 3B 1 · Mosby, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 13, 2019 · N3078G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to account for environmental conditions conducive to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inappropriate…
- [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 WPR17LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA145.md): Piper L 21B · Big Timber, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2017 · N99031 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to fly at low altitude in the vicinity of power lines, which resulted in a wire strike.
- [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 WPR16FA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA170.md): Cessna 182 · Clinton, MT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 28, 2016 · N9936T · Destroyed
  > The sudden right turn on approach to landing for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
- [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 WPR16FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA012.md): Bucker Jungmeister BU 133 · Missoula, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 14, 2015 · N1940J · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while executing a return to the runway after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s…
- [NTSB GAA15LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15LA217.md): MD Helicopter 369E · Whitefish, MT · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 5, 2015 · N43792 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude and a level attitude while hovering over water at night during an external load operation, which resulted in the helicopter’s main rotor contacting the surface of the water.
- [NTSB WPR15FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA049.md): Cessna 170B · Alzada, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 28, 2014 · N3292A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR15LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA036.md): Champion 7AC · Darby, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 7, 2014 · N84462 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB WPR14FA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA231.md): Grumman G 21A · Sula, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 17, 2014 · N888GG · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to continue flight into deteriorating weather conditions in an airplane not maintained for instrument flight, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.
- [NTSB WPR14LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA233.md): North Wing Apache Sport · Polson, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2014 · N2804P · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s loss of airplane control during initial climb due to his experiencing an incapacitating medical event.
- [NTSB WPR14LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA198.md): Rockwell International S 2R · Medicine Lake, MT · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 21, 2014 · N702CB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control and sufficient altitude to clear terrain during a low-altitude maneuver.
- [NTSB WPR14CA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA067.md): Beech 58P · Kalispell, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 9, 2013 · N53MT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the landing sequence.
- [NTSB WPR13FA368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA368.md): Beech E35 · West Yellowstone, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 12, 2013 · N3226C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while aligning the airplane with the runway for landing, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's…
- [NTSB WPR13FA343](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA343.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Thompson Falls, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 27, 2013 · N25WH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while operating in conditions conducive to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB WPR13CA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA325.md): Boeing E75 · Bozeman, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 14, 2013 · N5176N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a turn, which resulted in a loss of lift and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR13LA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA303.md): Bell 206L-3 · Missoula, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 28, 2013 · N868H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to prevent the helicopter from settling with power and to maintain proper position relative to an external load, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR13FA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA183.md): Cessna 182C · Circle, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 6, 2013 · N8721T · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control as a result of spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue flight into low visibility conditions.
- [NTSB WPR13CA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA117.md): Cessna 170B · Sunburst, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 6, 2013 · N2619D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to compensate for the strong, gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during takeoff.
- [NTSB WPR13CA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA018.md): Albright Stan Kitfox Super Sport · Twin Bridges, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 18, 2012 · N960WM · Substantial damage
  > The airplane builder’s failure to rig the flight controls correctly, which resulted in a loss of control after takeoff.
- [NTSB WPR12LA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA317.md): Herem DR-107 · Bridger, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 21, 2012 · N58GH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering after takeoff.
- [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 WPR11FA390](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA390.md): Piper PA-18-150 · Forsyth, MT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 18, 2011 · N7666D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall/mush, loss of control, and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR11FA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA383.md): Piper PA-38-112 · Silver Bow, MT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 15, 2011 · N2584N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering.
- [NTSB WPR11LA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA317.md): Schweizer SGS 2-32 · Bigfork, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2011 · N591CC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his excessive control inputs during a simulated rope break while taking off, which resulted in an accelerated aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB WPR11CA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA286.md): Air Tractor AT301 · Circle, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 24, 2011 · N2362D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed during initial climb.
- [NTSB WPR11FA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA170.md): Cessna T310R · Butte, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 19, 2011 · N4914A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of airplane control during the missed approach for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the rapid and unforecast deterioration of the weather conditions to below the landing minimum and the pilot's decision to attempt the…
- [NTSB WPR10CA469](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA469.md): Piper PA-18-150 · White Sulphur Springs, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 24, 2010 · N4036E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around in turbulent wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees.
- [NTSB WPR10FA438](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA438.md): Cessna 182C · Belgrade, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 30, 2010 · N8957T · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument rated pilot's decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB WPR10LA393](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA393.md): Piper PA18A · Billings, MT · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2010 · N2660A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain lateral and directional control of the airplane during landing.
- [NTSB WPR10CA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA100.md): Bell 206B · Kalispell, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 7, 2010 · N127TP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain lateral drift control during landing.
- [NTSB WPR09CA388](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA388.md): Aeronca 7AC · Broadus, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 7, 2009 · N84787 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?state=MT&page=2

## 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" = '240' 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/240/sequence?state=MT

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OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
