Cessna 170B accident near Poplar, Montana, August 24, 1984
On August 24, 1984 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N7681, was substantially damaged in an accident near Poplar, Montana (Poplar airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1984 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Poplar, Montana · Poplar · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7681 · no longer on the register · serial 26524
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED, 'RIVER CURRENT 12-15 MPH, LANDING AREA 100 YARDS WIDE, CURVING TO RIGHT, WIND GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS FROM RIGHT REAR QUARTER. APPROACH WAS FAST, AND UPON LANDING, AIRCRAFT REMAINED ON STEP, UNRESPONSIVE TO AILERON AND RUDDER FOR TURNING. QUARTERING TAILWIND PUSHED AIRCRAFT INTO OUTER BANK OF RIVER WITH ENGINE IDLING, AIRCRAFT STILL TAXIING ON STEP AT PERHAPS 30 MPH. DECISION NOT TO APPLY POWER AND GET BACK OFF WATER BECAUSE OF STRONG TAILWIND AND LIMITED SPACE TO RESUME FLYING SPEED. AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ITS NOSE AND ONTO ITS BACK, RESTING ON RIVER BANK.'
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 429 hours in all; 155 in this make and model; 139 in the last 90 days; 362 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,822 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 21, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 79S Fort Benton MT at 4:51 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from GGW, 87 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.