Cessna 172N accident near Butte, Montana, August 31, 1991
On August 31, 1991 at about 8:02 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N2396E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Butte, Montana (Bert Mooney airport). It was an instructional 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
UNFAVORABLE WINDS. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION AND LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1991 · about 8:02 pm local time
- Place
- Butte, Montana · Bert Mooney · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N2396E · no longer on the register · serial 172-71265
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE HAD JUST ENTERED THE FLARE FOR LANDING WHEN IT SUDDENLY DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER AND RETRACTED 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS WHEN THE AIRPLANE YAWED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND SLAMMED TO THE GROUND. A PILOT WHO LANDED JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE STATED THAT A DUST DEVIL WAS SEEN IN THE LOCAL AREA.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 63 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 25 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: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Butte Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: BTM Butte MT at 7:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 5,101 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- 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.
Other NTSB records under N2396E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.