Cessna 150H accident near Missoula, Montana, November 6, 1997
On November 6, 1997 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N695NS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Missoula, Montana (Missoula airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot's failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1997 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Missoula, Montana · Missoula · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N695NS · no longer on the register · serial 15067659
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was attempting a touch-and-go on his first solo flight. He stated that he touched down and was applying power for the takeoff when the airplane turned to the left. The pilot applied right rudder pressure; however, the airplane continued to the left. The pilot reduced power to idle as the airplane was leaving the side of the runway. An airport marker sign was directly in front of the airplane and the pilot maneuvered to avoid a head-on collision. The left wing strut collided with the sign and the airplane came to rest off the side of the runway.
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: student
- Flight time: 17 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,239 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 1997; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 9,499 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 303° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 11,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from MSO
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.