Amateur-built BABY GREAT LAKES accident near Stevensville, Montana, May 20, 1996
On May 20, 1996 at about 3:45 pm local time, a amateur-built BABY GREAT LAKES, registered N94AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stevensville, Montana (Stevensville 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 inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during the landing roll, which resulted in loss of directional control and an inadvertent ground swerve. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse wind conditions (crosswind and gusts), rough terrain, and the pilot's lack of experience in the type of aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1996 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Stevensville, Montana · Stevensville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BABY GREAT LAKES BABY GREAT
- Registration
- N94AT · no longer on the register · serial 82963BGL
- 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 the accident flight was his first flight in the homebuilt airplane. The airplane was a sport bi-wing. During the landing rollout, gusts and crosswinds prevailed. The airplane veered off the runway, and the left gear collapsed. The pilot stated that he 'over-corrected' during the landing rollout, while he attempted to keep the airplane on the runway. No preimpact mechanical malfunction was reported by the pilot. In the 'Recommendation' section of NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: 'Become more familiar with aircraft flight and landing characteristics.'
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,487 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,487 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 41 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1995; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N94AT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.