Aviat A-1 accident near Winifred, Montana, October 19, 2004
On October 19, 2004 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Aviat A-1, registered N79795, was substantially damaged in an accident near Winifred, Montana. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an aerodynamic stall while maneuvering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 2004 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Winifred, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat A-1
- Registration
- N79795 · no longer on the register · serial 1205
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger were conducting aerial surveillance supporting livestock operations. In a written report, and subsequent telephone discussion, the pilot reported he was operating at 200 feet above ground level (AGL) at an indicated airspeed of 60 miles per hour. He conveyed that on his third pass "the aircraft got soft and dropped slightly." The pilot added power and lowered the nose of the airplane, however the airplane continued to settle, eventually striking a treetop and terrain. In his written report, the pilot stated that the airplane did not respond to normal stall recovery techniques, and continued to settle after lowering the nose and adding power. No mechanical difficulties or malfunctions were reported.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 578 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 31, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 523 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 2004; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-CIG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5U0 Denton MT at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.