Dassault MYSTERE FALCON 900 accident near Hamilton, Montana, July 2, 1998
On July 2, 1998 at about 5:49 pm local time, a Dassault MYSTERE FALCON 900, registered N900CS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamilton, Montana (Ravalli CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Partial failure of the anti-skid brake system due to contamination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1998 · about 5:49 pm local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Montana · Ravalli CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dassault MYSTERE FALCON 900 MYSTERE FA · all MYSTERE FALCON 900s on the register
- Registration
- N900CS · registry record · serial 104
- 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, after a normal approach and touchdown, he applied the brakes and thrust reversers. He stated that as the aircraft slowed to 60 to 70 knots, it veered to the right and exited the side of the runway. The pilot regained directional control after the aircraft exited the runway. Before the aircraft came to a stop, the right wing collided with the VASI lights for the opposite runway. Skid marks leading to the exit point on the runway, indicated that the right-side tire marks displayed heavier braking action than on the left side. Post-accident testing performed on the anti-skid generators revealed that the left-side inboard and outboard generators failed the manufacturer's specifications. The right-side inboard and outboard generators passed all manufacturers specifications. The left-side generators were disassembled. The inspection did not reveal any anomalies. A slight difference in the brush wear between the brush fittings was noted between the two generators. A short circuit between two adjacent collectors was found in the outboard generator rotor fitting. The manufacturer's representative reported that the short circuit was not due to a failure within a cell of the rotor, but was likely due to contamination present between the two collectors.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,316 hours in all; 780 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 7,172 as pilot in command; 1,085 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,119 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 7, 1998; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 46,500 lb
- Seats: 15
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Airesearch TFE-731-5B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tag Aviation USA
The flight
- Departed from: SFO San Francisco CA at 4:12 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA98LA118.