Fleet FL-80 accident near Havre, Montana, July 20, 1991
On July 20, 1991 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Fleet FL-80, registered CFDPZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Havre, 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 ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL INJECTION PUMP METERING VALVE SHAFT WAS LOOSE. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1991 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Havre, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fleet FL-80
- Registration
- CFDPZ · no longer on the register · serial 052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. UNABLE TO LAND AT AN AIRPORT, A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED TO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. A POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL INJECTION PUMP METERING VALVE SHAFT WAS LOOSE IN THE PUMP HOUSING. THE SHAFT WAS PUSHED BACK INTO POSITION AND THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND FOUND TO RUN AND MAINTAIN THE REQUIRED RPM.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,480 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12FJ (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GGW Glasgow MT at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:05 pm
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.