Piper PA-38-112 accident near Belgrade, Montana, June 3, 1990
On June 3, 1990 at about 2:32 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9375T, was destroyed in an accident near Belgrade, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADVERTENT STALL EXPERIENCED DURING THE ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1990 · about 2:32 pm local time
- Place
- Belgrade, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9375T · registry record · serial 38-78A0078
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD APRX 10 GAL IN THE LEFT TANK AND 8 GAL IN THE RIGHT TANK PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE PLT AND PAX TOOK OFF, DID 3 TOUCH-AND-GOES, THEN WENT SIGHTSEEING. THEY RETURNED TO THE ARPT AND DID ANOTHER TOUCH-AND-GO. ON CLIMBOUT, THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT MANAGED TO RESTART THE ENG, BUT IT QUIT AGAIN. THE ACFT WAS SEEN TO MAKE A STEEP RIGHT BANK AND CRASH. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS NOT COMPROMISED. APRX 10 GAL OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE LEFT TANK. NO FUEL WAS IN THE RIGHT TANK AND THE GASCOLATOR WAS DRY. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN FOR 2.1 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. FUEL CONSUMPTION VARIES FROM 4.3 TO 6.5 GPH, DEPENDING ON PWR SETTING AND ALT FLOWN.
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: 128 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,792 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1990; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sunbird Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BZN at 12:35 pm
- Destination: BZN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:44 pm from BZN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN90LA122.