Cessna 425 accident near Helena, Montana, August 11, 2021
On August 11, 2021 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1982 Cessna 425, registered N783MB, was substantially damaged in an accident during emergency descent near Helena, Montana (Helena Rgnl airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A flameout of both engines due to fuel starvation for reasons that could not be determined due to the airplane’s damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2021 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Helena, Montana · Helena Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 425, built 1982 · all 425s on the register
- Registration
- N783MB · registry record · serial 425-0103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that on the morning of the accident he filled both wing fuel tanks to full. After takeoff, he climbed to his planned cruise altitude of 24,000 ft mean sea level (msl). While en route to his destination, the pilot reported that the left engine experienced a flame-out. The pilot opted to divert from the originally planned destination and descended. When the airplane was about 7,900 ft msl, the pilot reported that the right engine experienced a loss of power and that he was not going to be able to make it to the airport. Shortly thereafter, the airplane collided with trees and the airplane came to rest with the right wing and empennage severed from the fuselage. There was fuel in the wing tanks at the time of the impact. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any anomalies. A partial amount of fuel was found in both of the filter bowls, but it is unknown if fuel was able to reach the engines. A complete examination of the fuel system could not be completed due to the damage incurred to the airplane at impact. Both engines flaming out within a short time of one another is likely indicative of a fuel supply or delivery issue; however, the nature of the problem could not be identified during postaccident examination.
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 engine power (total) during emergency descent defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
Passenger
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,576 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 2021; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,600 lb
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W PT6A-112 (turboprop); 9,451 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W PT6A-112 (turboprop); 9,451 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FBL Fairbault MN at 11:05 am
- Destination: MSO Missoula MT
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 14 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from KHLN, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHLN 111353Z 27014G25KT 10SM CLR 23/08 A3003 RMK AO2 PK WND 26030/1259 SLP143 T02330078
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR21LA313.