Cessna 152 accident near St. Ignatius, Montana, December 24, 2013
On December 24, 2013 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna 152, registered N5533B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near St. Ignatius, Montana (St Ignatius airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain a stabilized approach for landing that resulted in a long landing and subsequent runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2013 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- St. Ignatius, Montana · St Ignatius · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 NO SERIES, built 1979 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5533B · registry record · serial 15283896
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a pleasure flight, the non-certified pilot attempted twice to land at the accident airport. On the first attempt, the pilot stated that the approach was too fast and too high, so he performed a go-around. On the accident landing, the airplane landed farther down the 2,610-foot runway than he anticipated. The airplane did not slow down, and as the end of the runway approached, the pilot applied the brakes. The airplane subsequently veered to the left and right, and then back to the left again, which allowed the right wing to contact the runway. The nose of the airplane impacted a snow berm, and the airplane came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing and fuselage. An examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunction or failure 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Snow/ice › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 31.5 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,676 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7S0 Ronan MT at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 52S St. Ignatius MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,610 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from 7S0, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N5533B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.