Amateur-built QUICKIE 2 accident near Superior, Montana, September 11, 1996
On September 11, 1996 at about 7:40 pm local time, a amateur-built QUICKIE 2, registered N73QQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Superior, Montana (Mineral County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of engine power after takeoff for undetermined reason(s), and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering to return to the departure airport, which resulted in a stall and collision with wooded terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1996 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Superior, Montana · Mineral County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUICKIE 2
- Registration
- N73QQ · no longer on the register · serial 2765
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot worked on the engine of his amateur-built experimental airplane before taking off. Starting the engine required use of a jump-start. The airplane did not have a magneto ignition, but relied on a battery-coil ignition system. After takeoff, the airplane climbed to about 600 feet above ground level. Witnesses observed the airplane enter a steep turn to reverse course back toward the airport. During the turn, the airplane's nose dropped abruptly, and the airplane 'nose-dived' into wooded terrain. A witness, who was driving on an adjacent highway at 68 mph, noted that before the accident, the airplane was flying slower than the witness's vehicle was traveling. Level flight stall speed of the airplane was listed as 64 mph. During the investigation, no preimpact mechanical discrepancy was found, other than a bad cell in the battery. There was evidence, however, that the propeller was not turning when the airplane crashed.
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: 4,009 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 2100D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9S4 at 7:35 pm
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from MSO, 38 miles away
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.
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.