# NTSB WPR26LA155: Aero Vodochody L-39, N136EM, Ennis, MT, April 10, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: April 10, 2026, 12:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place: Ennis, MT
- Coordinates: 45.309167, -111.63683
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3092&lon=-111.6368&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202806
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA155
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202806/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA155

## Preliminary report

On April 10, 2026, about 1210 mountain daylight time, an Aero Vodochody L 39, N136EM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ennis, Montana. The flight instructor sustained minor injuries, and the pilot undergoing instruction was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight was conducted in preparation for an upcoming checkride for the pilot undergoing instruction, who was seated in the front seat. The flight crew was performing a practice instrument approach to runway 16 at Ennis - Big Sky airport and were descending through 8,500 ft mean sea level when the pilot began to slow the airplane and configure it for landing. The pilot stated that as the airplane slowed to 190 knots, the engine rolled back to zero thrust, and the flight instructor reported that when the throttle was advanced, the engine did not respond. The instructor assumed control of the airplane and slowed it to best glide airspeed while the pilot began performing engine relight procedures. The engine did not restart, and with limited altitude available, the crew decided to perform a forced gear up landing to an open field rather than risk ejecting. The pilot provided guidance to the flight instructor during the final approach and flare, and the airplane touched down facing uphill, eventually coming to rest about 500 yards beyond the touchdown point. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage and both wings during the accident sequence.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Vodochody L-39, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05603SJ), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N136EM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N136EM), registered now, S/N 432925, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO VODOCHODY L-39
- Registry model: [Aero Vodochody L-39](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-vodochody-l-39) (registry code 05603SJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Ivchenko AI-25TL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ivchenko-ai-25tl) (registry code 34703, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 432925
- Year built: 1984
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Jdi Holdings LLC
- Registered owner: Jdi Holdings LLC
- Departed: BZN, Bozeman
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: EKS, Ennis Big Sky, runway 16/34, 7,600 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KBZN, 35 nm away
- METAR: METAR KBZN 101856Z 36004KT 10SM CLR 13/M02 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP140 T01281022=

## 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 20260410002859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260410002859A), Apr 10, 2026: Aero Vodochody L-39, Ennis, MT, Substantial damage. On April 10, 2026, at 1220 MDT, a areo vodochody L-39, [privacy data omitted] registered to an LLC, made a off-airfield gearup landing after engine failure on…

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.

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