Amateur-built FOKKER DR-1 accident near Kalispell, Montana, February 23, 1990
On February 23, 1990 at about 11:15 pm local time, a amateur-built FOKKER DR-1, registered N72517, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kalispell, Montana (Glacier Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THIS AIRCRAFT WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1990 · about 11:15 pm local time · cases in 1990
- Place
- Kalispell, Montana · Glacier Park · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FOKKER DR-1 FOKKER DR-
- Registration
- N72517 · registry record · serial H-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE WAS MAKING HIS FIRST FLIGHT IN THIS AMATEUR BUILT FOKKER TRI-PLANE REPLICA. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING WHEN IT BEGAN A RIGHT TURN. AFTER TURNING ABOUT 180 DEGREES THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SPIN AND CRASHED. THE PILOT SAID ONE OR TWO OF THE WINGS STALLED. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE & REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE ACCIDENT.
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: 500 hours in all; 450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,462 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner SCARAB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FCA at 11:10 pm
- Destination: FCA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 8,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N72517 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Warner SCARAB · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Montana 1,121 since 1982 · 166 in the last ten years
- Montana 6,041 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN90LA067.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.