Cessna 170B accident near Missoula, Montana, July 17, 1985
On July 17, 1985 at about 8:17 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N8252A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Missoula, Montana (Missoula CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- July 17, 1985 · about 8:17 pm local time
- Place
- Missoula, Montana · Missoula CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8252A · registry record · serial 25104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT USE PROPER TECHNIQUE AND DID NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE LANDING IN A BRISK AND DIRECT CROSSWIND. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED IN THE HARD LANDING THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY A GROUND LOOP.
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
- Flight time: 489 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 436 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,201 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSO Missoula MT at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 9,499 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from MSO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N8252A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.