Amateur-built Super Sportsman accident near Spotted Bear, Montana, January 24, 2021
On January 24, 2021 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1992 amateur-built Super Sportsman, registered N55BT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Spotted Bear, Montana (Spotted Bear /Usfs/ 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 aircraft control during the landing roll on an unimproved snow-covered runway which resulted in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 2021 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Spotted Bear, Montana · Spotted Bear /Usfs/ · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Super Sportsman, built 1992
- Registration
- N55BT · registry record · serial 101
- 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, prior to landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he conducted a low approach over the snow-covered runway for inspection. During the low approach, the pilot observed runway markers and numerous parallel tracks on the runway and decided to land. During landing roll, the airplane encountered an area of soft snow that was deeper than expected, which resulted in the airplane immediately stopping, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,430 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 24, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 656 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 11, 2020; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 1,480 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8S1 Polson MT at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14/3, 3,800 ft by 78 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from KGPI, 33 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGPI 241655Z 00000KT 10SM OVC017 M07/M09 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP133 T10671094
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.