Cessna C-172G accident near Red Lodge, Montana, September 20, 1991
On September 20, 1991 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna C-172G, registered N1359F, was destroyed in an accident near Red Lodge, Montana. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF CONTROL BY THE INSTRUCTOR DUE TO THE IMPROPER RECOVERY ALTITUDE SELECTED TO TERMINATE A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING, THE EXCESSIVE PULL-UP BY THE STUDENT DUE TO HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE, AND THE DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION OF THE INSTRUCTOR. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FLAP AND ELEVATOR TRIM SETTINGS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 1991 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Red Lodge, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-172G
- Registration
- N1359F · no longer on the register · serial 17254854
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTR PILOT HAD THE STU PILOT MAKE HIS FIRST RECOVERY FROM A SIMULATED FORCED LDG AT 150-200 FT ABOVE THE GND. THE STU PILOT STALLED THE ACFT DURING THE MANEUVER AND THE 74 YR OLD INSTR PILOT COULD NOT RECOVER FROM THE STALL BEFORE THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GND. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT WAS TRIMMED NOSE UP AND THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED 10 DEGREES. THE STU PILOT HAD 2 HRS TOTAL FLT TIME.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,175 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RED Red Lodge MT at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from BIL, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.