Cessna 180 accident near Kalispell, Montana, June 9, 1996
On June 9, 1996, a Cessna 180, registered N2411C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kalispell, Montana (Kalispell City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control, due to inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors relating to the accident were: the crosswind and soft/wet terrain near the edge of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1996
- Place
- Kalispell, Montana · Kalispell City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N2411C · registry record · serial 30711
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing in constantly changing winds, the pilot was unable to maintain direction control of the tailwheel equipped aircraft. After the aircraft exited the right side of the runway, the left main gear collapsed after coming in contact with soft, wet terrain.
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: 485 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,707 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 18, 1996; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-470-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S27 MT at 11:00 pm
- Destination: S27
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.