Boeing B-75 accident near Three Forks, Montana, August 1, 1992
On August 1, 1992 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Boeing B-75, registered N5176N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Three Forks, Montana (Three Forks 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'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDE A CROSSWIND GUST.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1992 · about 6:10 pm local time · cases in 1992
- Place
- Three Forks, Montana · Three Forks Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing B-75 · all B-75s on the register
- Registration
- N5176N · registry record · serial 75-5379
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHEN HIS BOEING B-75 ENCOUNTERED A CROSSWIND GUST JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RECOVERY USING DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING AND RUDDER APPLICATION, BUT THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED-OVER NEAR THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 221 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 127 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,258 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1992; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680-B4D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BZN Bozeman MT at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 4,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 46°F (8°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.
Other NTSB records under N5176N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5176N on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Boeing B75 Stearman Kaydet 257 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Boeing 6,678 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming R-680-B4D 225 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Three Forks Airport · nearest airport
- Bozeman Yellowstone International · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Montana 1,121 since 1982 · 166 in the last ten years
- Montana 6,042 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N5176N 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA92LA171.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.