Cessna 320E accident near W. Yellowstone, Montana, July 18, 1997
On July 18, 1997 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 320E, registered N3425Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near W. Yellowstone, Montana (Yellowstone Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing when asymmetric power was applied. A factor was the crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1997 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- W. Yellowstone, Montana · Yellowstone Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320E · all 320Es on the register
- Registration
- N3425Q · no longer on the register · serial 320E0025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot attempted to compensate for crosswind conditions during final approach in the twin-engine airplane with the use of power. He began to drift off the east (left) side of the runway, and he stated that the right engine did not respond to throttle inputs during the landing. He lost directional control of the airplane and impacted rough, grassy terrain off the edge of the runway. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane was substantially damaged. Examination of both propellers revealed damage consistent with applied power on the left engine, and no power on the right engine. An examination of the maintenance records revealed that the engine had recently been rebuilt by the manufacturer and installed on the airplane. Prior to the accident flight, it underwent an annual inspection and was operated for 6.2 hours during six flights with no problems noted. An examination of the right engine throttle controls and a functional test of the right engine did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical discrepancies that would have resulted in a power loss or hesitation.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,733 hours in all; 163 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,420 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,544 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1997; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OGD Ogden UT at 9:00 pm
- Destination: WYS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 8,399 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:33 pm from WYS
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.