Amateur-built 2 PLACE accident near Manhattan, Montana, January 3, 1985
On January 3, 1985 at about 12:00 pm local time, a amateur-built 2 PLACE, registered N13954, was destroyed in an accident near Manhattan, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- January 3, 1985 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Manhattan, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 2 PLACE
- Registration
- N13954 · registry record
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN OPEN FLT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT REPORTEDLY STATED HE NEEDED TO DEPART MANHATTAN BY 0500 MST TO ARRIVE IN HELENA BEFORE 0600 MST WHEN THE ATC TWR OPENED AS HIS ACFT WAS NOT RADIO EQUIPPED. THE WRECKAGE WAS DISCOVERED AT 1430 MST BY ANOTHER ACFT. THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AT MANHATTAN WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY RWY LIGHTING. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT AND ENG DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 1985; 1 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 2100D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MT at 12:00 pm
- Destination: HLN Helena MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 am from BZN, 8 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.