Piper PA-24-250 accident near Belt, Montana, November 14, 1991
On November 14, 1991 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6072P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belt, Montana (Dawson Ranch 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
A BLOCKED FUEL VENT AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 1991 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Belt, Montana · Dawson Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6072P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1168
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE RETARDED THE THROTTLE SETTING TO EXTEND THE GEAR, BUT GOT NO RESPONSE WHEN HE TRIED TO INCREASE THE POWER AFTER THE GEAR WAS EXTENDED. HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRSTRIP AND LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE VENT FOR THE LEFT TANK WAS BLOCKED.
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: 600 hours in all; 525 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Belt MT at 3:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from GTF, 25 miles away
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.