Siai-Marchetti SM accident near Belgrade, Montana, May 13, 2019
On May 13, 2019 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1976 Siai-Marchetti SM, registered N772DW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Belgrade, Montana (Bozeman Yellowstone Intl airport). It was an instructional 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 receiving instruction's overapplication of rudder during the landing roll and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2019 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Belgrade, Montana · Bozeman Yellowstone Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Siai-Marchetti SM 1019, built 1976
- Registration
- N772DW · registry record · serial 007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while the pilot receiving instruction performed a wheel landing, the touchdown was smooth and normal. The pilot reduced the power to idle, the tailwheel lowered, and the airspeed decelerated to about 30 knots. He added that the airplane turned slightly right and that the pilot corrected with "slightly too much left rudder," followed by "too much right rudder," which led to a ground loop. The instructor attempted to recover with heavy left rudder and decided to perform a go-around. He attempted to add power, but he was unable to advance the power lever, which he believed the pilot was holding firmly. The left wing impacted the runway, and airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,274 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 1,233 as pilot in command; 473 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 8, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 331 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 197 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 10, 2017
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,983 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 24, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,866 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-B15G (turboprop); 1,538 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7S1 Twin Bridges MT at 5:00 pm
- Destination: BZN Belgrade MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 8,994 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KBZN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 5, 2019. 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 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.