Cessna A185F accident near Ennis, Montana, August 13, 1992
On August 13, 1992 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N1207Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ennis, Montana (Private airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A LOOSE GRAVEL AIRSTRIP, WIND GUSTS AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1992 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Ennis, Montana · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N1207Q · no longer on the register · serial 18503470
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, A NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING WERE MADE TO THE PRIVATE GRAVEL AIRSTRIP. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, A GUST OF WIND RAISED THE AIRPLANE'S TAIL. WHEN THE TAIL CAME BACK DOWN, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND SLIDE SIDEWAYS. THE PILOT TRIED TO CORRECT BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE SURFACE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,820 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 1,640 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 1992; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Dell MT at 1:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.