Amateur-built HATZ CB1 accident near Hysham, Montana, July 1, 2014
On July 1, 2014 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1990 amateur-built HATZ CB1, registered N39761, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Hysham, Montana (Hysham 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 maintain directional control during the landing roll with a crosswind, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2014 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hysham, Montana · Hysham · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HATZ CB1, built 1990
- Registration
- N39761 · no longer on the register · serial 55
- 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 returning back from an approximate 45-minute local flight, he aligned the tailwheel equipped bi-plane for a landing on the active runway. The pilot noted there was an approximate 10-knot crosswind. During the landing roll, the airplane veered right and continued off the runway surface. The airplane ground looped which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear. As a result of the impact, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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)
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 › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,121 hours in all; 9 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 77 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 2014; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,290 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6U7 Hysham MT at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 6U7 Hysham MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,060 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.