Cessna 172G accident near Billings, Montana, March 15, 1992
On March 15, 1992 at about 5:08 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N4615L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Billings, Montana (Billings Logan Int'L 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 1992 · about 5:08 pm local time
- Place
- Billings, Montana · Billings Logan Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4615L · registry record · serial 17254610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING LANDING ON RUNWAY 27R AT THE BILLINGS LOGAN INTNL AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT WEATHERVANED TO THE LEFT. THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH RUDDER DURING WHICH THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER COMING TO REST INVERTED ON THE FIXED DISTANCE MARKER 1000 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. WINDS DURING THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT WERE CONSISTENTLY 220 DEGREES MAGNETIC AT 12 TO 13 KNOTS. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD ACCRUED A TOTAL OF 29 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE OF WHICH 8 HOURS HAD BEEN LOGGED IN THE 30 DAYS PREVIOUS TO THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Flight time: 29 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,638 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 29, 1991; 101 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mescalleros Flying Club
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 10,528 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.