Cessna 140 accident near Fort Benton, Montana, October 20, 2015
On October 20, 2015 at about 11:50 pm local time, a 1946 Cessna 140, registered N76001, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Fort Benton, Montana (Fort Benton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A hard landing which resulted in a loss of directional control, main landing gear collapse, and damage to the left wing spar.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 2015 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Benton, Montana · Fort Benton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140, built 1946 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N76001 · no longer on the register · serial 10395
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he landed with a 5 to 8 knot tailwind and landed hard. The pilot lost directional control of the airplane and side loaded the landing gear which caused the left main landing gear to collapse and the left wing impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- 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 › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,538 hours in all; 1,538 in this make and model; 1,538 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,556 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 79S Fort Benton MT at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 79S Fort Benton MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 11:58 pm from KGFA, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.