Cessna 172 accident near W. Yellowstone, Montana, August 31, 2002
On August 31, 2002 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6830A, was substantially damaged in an accident near W. Yellowstone, Montana (Yellowstone 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 compensation for the wind conditions was inadequate during the landing roll. A quartering tailwind was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2002 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- W. Yellowstone, Montana · Yellowstone · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6830A · registry record · serial 28930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after the aircraft touched on runway 19, he needed to apply left rudder input, followed by left braking action to counteract the weathervane effect. The pilot stated that despite the increased inputs, the airplane departed the runway centerline and traveled off the side of the runway. The left main landing gear separated at the gear leg attachment and the left wing contacted the surface. Shortly after the accident, the winds were reported from 300 degrees at 8 knots. Post accident inspection of the gear leg, gear leg attach bolt, gear box and brake indicated a side load. No anomalies were reported for the brake system.
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: 1,917 hours in all; 129 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 1,809 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 5, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,216 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 31, 2002; 158 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BZN Bozeman MT at 4:45 pm
- Destination: WYS W. Yellowstone MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 8,399 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 5:46 pm from WYS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N6830A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.