Amateur-built HATZ CLASSIC accident near Ennis, Montana, April 29, 2023
On April 29, 2023, a 2009 amateur-built HATZ CLASSIC, registered N687HZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Ennis, Montana (Ennis Big Sky airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 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
- April 29, 2023
- Place
- Ennis, Montana · Ennis Big Sky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HATZ CLASSIC, built 2009
- Registration
- N687HZ · registry record · serial 687
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped, experimental amateur-built airplane, reported that during the landing roll he decreased the airplane’s speed to exit the runway, but a ground loop ensued. He did not recall whether he inadvertently applied the heel brakes, or if the airplane encountered a wind gust. The meteorological aerodrome report located at the accident airport about the time of the accident reported that, the wind was out of 130° and the wind velocity was 4 knots. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom left wing spar. 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,111 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,056 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 28, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 116 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 15, 2023; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotec R3600 (piston); 116 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U02 Blackfoot ID at 9:00 pm
- Destination: EKS Ennis MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 7,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KEKS, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KEKS 282355Z AUTO 13004KT 10SM CLR 18/M07 A3022 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 4, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | 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.