Aviat A1 accident near Broadus, Montana, December 13, 2015
On December 13, 2015 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1989 Aviat A1, registered N29712, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Broadus, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wires while flying at a low altitude resulting in a wire strike, a loss of airplane control, and the consequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2015 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Broadus, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat A1 Husky, built 1989
- Registration
- N29712 · no longer on the register · serial 1073
- 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, while flying at low altitude and following the course of a river, he did not see the telephone wires that spanned the width of the river. He recalled that while following the river's path, the airplane struck the wires, the airspeed decreased, and the wires "broke". He reported that during the moments while the airplane was in contact with the wires, the airspeed bled off to below stall airspeed, descended, and impacted the ground east of the river bank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight 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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Aircraft structural failure during post (impact)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
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 › Altitude › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 834 hours in all; 543 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 818 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 6, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,226.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 2015; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,984 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1G (piston); 5,152 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Weston WY at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 00F Broadus MT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from W43, 91 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.