Cessna 180 accident near Bozeman, Montana, June 25, 1993
On June 25, 1993 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N8047Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bozeman, Montana (Gallatin Fld airport). It was a personal 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. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1993 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bozeman, Montana · Gallatin Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N8047Z · registry record · serial 180-52312
- 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 WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE AIRPLANE WAS HIGH. WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, IT BOUNCED. AFTER THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN, IT VEERED TO THE LEFT AND ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE 'GAVE TOO MUCH RUDDER.' THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO GROUND LOOP AND THE PILOT 'JAMMED DOWN ON THE RIGHT BRAKE, INSTEAD OF BOTH BRAKES.' THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE SURFACE AS THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED.
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: 1,179 hours in all; 241 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,606 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1993; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BZN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 9,003 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 39°F (4°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.