Amateur-built Q2 accident near Cut Bank, Montana, May 12, 1988
On May 12, 1988 at about 10:42 pm local time, a amateur-built Q2, registered N31DJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cut Bank, Montana (Cut Bank Muni. airport). It was an instructional 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
- May 12, 1988 · about 10:42 pm local time
- Place
- Cut Bank, Montana · Cut Bank Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q2
- Registration
- N31DJ · no longer on the register · serial 2876
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACDT OCCURRED ON THE ARPT WHEN THE PLT DECIDED TO ABORT THE FLT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PLT SAID THAT AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT DID NOT SEEM TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY SO HE DECIDED TO LAND. THE TAKEOFF HAD BEEN MADE ON A 5300 FT LONG RWY WHICH HAS A 600 FT OVERRUN AND A 2545 FT SECTION OF UNUSABLE RWY BEYOND THE OVERRUN. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT DRIFTED TO THE RT AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE LANDING WAS MADE IN THE GRASS AREA BESIDE THE UNUSABLE SECTION OF THE RWY. AFTER LANDING THE ACFT CROSSED AN ABANDONED RWY FROM WHICH THE ASPHALT HAD BEEN REMOVED. UPON CROSSING THE ABANDONED RWY THE ACFT STRUCK A LIP AND THE LT CANARD BROKE OFF. THE DENSITY ALT AT THE TIME OF THE ACDT WAS ABOUT 5900 FT. THE PLT SAID THE FLIGHT MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR HIGH ALT OPERATIONS IN THIS ACFT ARE SKETCHY.
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: 7,445 hours in all; 57 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 60 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1988; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 210D-DQ (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CTB at 10:42 pm
- Destination: CTB
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,300 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from CTB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.