Stinson 108-1 accident near Bozeman, Montana, July 25, 2021
On July 25, 2021 at about 7:44 pm local time, a 1947 Stinson 108-1, registered N8844K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Bozeman, Montana (Bozeman Yellowstone Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2021 · about 7:44 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Bozeman, Montana · Bozeman Yellowstone Intl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1, built 1947 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8844K · registry record · serial 108-1844
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, he made a normal wheel landing and as he was about to lower the tailwheel, the airplane veered to the right. He attempted to correct with left rudder control, but the airplane ground looped. The pilot opined that the airplane may have been caught by a wind gust, which started an oscillation that he was not able to correct for. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 109 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 2,330 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S83 Shoshone ID at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12/3, 8,994 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from KBZN, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBZN 251856Z 34003KT 10SM CLR 29/03 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP153 T02940033
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 12, 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 (Pilot) | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8844K on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Stinson 108 Voyager and Station Wagon 1,268 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Stinson 1,728 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 768 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bozeman Yellowstone International · nearest airport
- Shoshone County · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Montana 1,121 since 1982 · 166 in the last ten years
- Montana 6,041 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR21LA289.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.