Cessna 172M accident near Helena, Montana, February 7, 1991
On February 7, 1991 at about 10:06 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N13654, was substantially damaged in an accident near Helena, Montana (Helena airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE ON LANDING INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL AND RECENT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 1991 · about 10:06 pm local time
- Place
- Helena, Montana · Helena · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N13654 · no longer on the register · serial 17262914
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LANDING, THE PILOT FLARED HIGH AND THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AND BOUNCED. THE PILOT APPLIED POWER, AND THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN AND VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT WING AND PROPELLER COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST NOSE DOWN.
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: 101 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 66 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sleeping Giant Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: 8U9 Townsend MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.