Cessna 195A accident near Meadow Creek, Montana, September 14, 2013
On September 14, 2013 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1948 Cessna 195A, registered N4324N, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Meadow Creek, Montana (Meadow Creek Usfs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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 maintain directional control during the takeoff roll on a rough turf runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2013 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Meadow Creek, Montana · Meadow Creek Usfs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195A UNDESIGNAT, built 1948 · all 195As on the register
- Registration
- N4324N · registry record · serial 7085
- 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 during the takeoff roll on a rough turf runway the airplane bounced and swerved to the right. The pilot corrected for the swerve when the airplane bounced a second time and despite his inputs, the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The right wheel encountered a depression and collapsed; subsequently the right wing struck the ground and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 455 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 387 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 16, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,139 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 19, 2013; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs L4 /R755-7 (piston); 5,146 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0S1 Meadow Creek MT at 9:45 pm
- Destination: S27 Kalispell MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,830 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from GPI, 44 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.