Amateur-built VANS RV8 accident near Cascade, Montana, May 4, 2024
On May 4, 2024 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 2021 amateur-built VANS RV8, registered N740MT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Cascade, Montana (Private Strip 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 aircraft control during landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2024 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cascade, Montana · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV8, built 2021
- Registration
- N740MT · registry record · serial 82050
- 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 airplane stated that after he performed a normal three-point landing on a grass airstrip, he began to apply brakes and aft control stick input. As the airplane decelerated to a slow speed, it nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its right wing, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that 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
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,325 hours in all; 106 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 6,032 as pilot in command; 1,283 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 30, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 134.2 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 7, 2023; 30.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming YO-360-A1A (piston); 134 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from K1IM, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): K1IM 041755Z AUTO 12011G15KT 10SM CLR 14/M03 A2983 RMK AO2 SLPNO T01381026 10139 20088 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of the airplane from the right.
Photograph 2 – View of substantial damage to the right wing.
Photograph 3 – View of substantial damage to vertical stabilizer.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 February 27, 2025. 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 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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.