Cessna 172D accident near Ronan, Montana, September 29, 1998
On September 29, 1998 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N2479Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ronan, Montana (Baer'S Airstrip 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
The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during liftoff from a soft field takeoff. Factors include high density alttiude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1998 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ronan, Montana · Baer'S Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2479Y · registry record · serial 17249779
- 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 while attempting to execute a soft field takeoff on a private, non-identified, turf airstrip, he pulled the aircraft's nose up prematurely. The aircraft then settled back to the surface and the pilot allowed the aircraft to accelerate before pulling the nose up a second time. On this occasion, all three wheels left the surface. Immediately thereafter, while still in ground effect, the aircraft veered left off of the takeoff surface. The pilot reported that he could not maintain directional control, and the aircraft went through a barbed-wire fence, striking several fence posts in the process. Density altitude at the closest weather reporting station was approximately 4,792 feet.
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: 217 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 157 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1998; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Spangle WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from MSO, 40 miles away
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.