Cessna 172N accident near Kalispell, Montana, August 19, 2015
On August 19, 2015 at about 6:10 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 172N, registered N733NH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Kalispell, Montana (Kalispell 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 pilot's loss of directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion, and collision with runway and taxiway lights and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2015 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Kalispell, Montana · Kalispell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N N, built 1977 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N733NH · no longer on the register · serial 17268416
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during landing the airplane touched down and veered to the right. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and struck the runway and taxiway lights. The pilot reported that he over corrected with the rudder and brake, and the airplane turned to the left crossing back over the runway, and impacted a drainage ditch where the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fire wall and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,412 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: July 11, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,469 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 25, 2015; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,307 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 H2AD (piston); 4,464 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S27 Kalispell MT at 4:30 pm
- Destination: S27 Kalispell MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KGPI, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 23, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.