# NTSB WPR25LA151: Stinson 108-3, N108RM, Port of Del Bonita, MT, May 5, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 5, 2025, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Port of Del Bonita, MT - Coordinates: 48.998096, -112.78055 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.9981&lon=-112.7806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 200125 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200125/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200125 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA151 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control while landing in gusting wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that prior to landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he obtained the current weather at his destination airport, where the wind was reported as calm. During the landing, after touchdown, he felt a large wind gust push the airplane to the left. The airplane then veered left and departed the runway through a barbed wired fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the right elevator and fuselage. The pilot confirmed that the right side rudder steering arm separated during the accident sequence. The pilot reported no other preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. At about the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 25, with the wind from 360° at 22 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N108RM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N108RM), registered now, S/N 108-5257, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STINSON 108-3 - Registry model: [Stinson 108-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-3) (registry code 9230408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-5257 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 3331.4 - Engines: Continental O-470L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 2025, 12 hours before - Departed: CTB, Cut Bank, MT - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: H28, Whetstone Intl, runway 07/25, 4,440 × 65 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 5, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 311 total, 40 in this make and model, 184 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 22 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.24 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KCTB, 29 nm away - METAR: KCTB 051456Z AUTO 36022KT 10SM BKN060 OVC075 06/M03 A3024 RMK AO2 PK WND 36030/1444 SLP251 T00611033 51021 $ ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250505005299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250505005299A), May 5, 2025: Stinson 108-3, Port Of Del Bon, MT, Substantial damage. The pilot indicated that a gust of wind affected the aircraft during the landing touchdown where the right rudder control authority was lost and the aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200125. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18737073&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array-courtesy of the pilot (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18862992&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Onsite%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Rom-pilot (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 323 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19096603&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROM-Pilot-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.