Cessna 172H accident near Great Falls, Montana, May 14, 1986
On May 14, 1986 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N3749R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Great Falls, Montana (Great Falls International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- May 14, 1986 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Great Falls, Montana · Great Falls International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N3749R · no longer on the register · serial 172255549
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER LANDING ON RWY 24 HE WAS BACK TAXIING ON RWY 06 WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED STRONG, GUSTY SURFACE WINDS. HE SAID HE STOPPED AND WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO TIE DOWN WHEN A STRONG GUST FLIPPED THE ACFT ONTO ITS BACK. SURFACE WIND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED FROM 260 DEGREES AT 33 WITH GUSTS TO 42 MILES PER HOUR.
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: 167 hours in all; 161 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tiber Lake MT at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 33 knots, gusting 42
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:40 pm from GTF
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.