Cessna 172C accident near Cut Bank, Montana, August 1, 1987
On August 1, 1987 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172C, registered N9748T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cut Bank, Montana (Cut Bank, Mt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- August 1, 1987 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Cut Bank, Montana · Cut Bank, Mt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172C · all 172Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9748T · no longer on the register · serial 47548
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT SHE RADIOED THE CUT BANK FSS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WIND WAS 060 DEGREES AT 41 KNOTS. SHE THEN LANDED THE ACFT UNEVENTFULLY. HOWEVER, WHILE TURNING 90 DEGREES OFF THE RWY ONTO A TAXIWAY, THE ACFT NOSED OVER.
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: 700 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 622 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HLN Helena MT at 6:30 pm
- Destination: CTB Cut Bank MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22, 5,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 30 knots, gusting 42
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:20 pm from CTB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.