Cessna 170 accident near Havre, Montana, September 21, 1990
On September 21, 1990 at about 11:59 pm local time, a Cessna 170, registered N4289V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Havre, Montana (Havre airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY BY THE OWNER/STUDENT PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND DURING LANDING GROUND ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1990 · about 11:59 pm local time
- Place
- Havre, Montana · Havre · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N4289V · registry record · serial 17018647
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THERE WAS A STUDENT PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT WHO WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT. A PRIVATE PILOT (PIC) WAS IN THE RIGHT SEAT. THE STUDENT PILOT (PASSENGER) ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RWY 25 IN STRONG GUSTY QUARTERING TAILWIND CONDITIONS AND LOST CONTROL DURING GND LANDING ROLL. THE ACFT DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE 5200 BY 100 FT RWY, IMPACTED TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER. WX OBS AT THE TIME RECORDED THE WIND FROM 340 DEGREES AT 11 GUSTING TO 18 KNOTS, WHICH FAVORED RWY 03.
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: 74 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CBT Cutbank MT at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,200 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from HVR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.