North American Aviation Div. T-28C accident near Red Lodge, Montana, April 17, 2007
On April 17, 2007 at about 4:20 pm local time, a North American Aviation Div. T-28C, registered N464SB, was destroyed in an accident near Red Lodge, 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 lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. Contributing factors were the loss of engine power during takeoff for undetermined reasons, and rough/uneven condition of the terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2007 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Red Lodge, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American Aviation Div. T-28C
- Registration
- N464SB · registry record · serial 140464
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he had just departed and had adjusted the engine controls for 36 inches of manifold pressure and 2,400 revolutions per minute for climb. He said that he turned to a north heading when the engine lost power. The pilot said that he attempted to land back at the airport, but ended up landing in an open field. He said the engine separated from the airframe and the empennage partially separated from the fuselage. The pilot said that the engine had been overhauled approximately 20 hours before the accident. The pilot reported that he fueled the airplane on March 14, 2007, with 63 gallons of fuel; he said, "both sides were topped off." He said that on March 21, 2007, he flew the airplane for approximately one hour, and on April 14, 2007, he flew the airplane again for approximately one hour. A postaccident evaluation of the engine was not completed. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,065 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 929 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 8,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-1820 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RED Red Lodge MT
- Destination: BIL Billings MT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.