Amateur-built RV-7A accident near West Glacier, Montana, August 12, 2025
On August 12, 2025 at about 8:57 pm local time, a 2014 amateur-built RV-7A, registered N30SG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near West Glacier, Montana (Ryan Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2025 · about 8:57 pm local time
- Place
- West Glacier, Montana · Ryan Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-7A, built 2014
- Registration
- N30SG · registry record · serial 71130
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 12, 2025, about 1457 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-7A N30SG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near West Glacier, Montana. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Multiple witnesses located at Ryan Field Airport (2MT1), West Glacier, Montana, reported that the airplane was attempting to land on runway 15. On the first attempt, the airplane bounced on the runway twice before the pilot initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the pilot radioed that the airplane's oil temperature was high, and he was going to fly around the area to cool the oil before attempting to land again. On the second attempt to land, the airplane bounced on the runway, and the pilot initiated another go-around. During the go-around, the right wing impacted a tree to the right of the runway. The airplane rolled inverted and impacted terrain in a nose down attitude. The witnesses reported that during the accident go around, the airplane appeared to be stable, and the engine was at high rpm and sounded normal. One of the witnesses recalled seeing the flaps extended during the climb out. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane came to rest in a near vertical attitude in a wooded area about 100 ft west of the runway centerline and about 1,720 ft from the approach end of runway 15. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a damaged tree about 245 ft north of the main wreckage and 75 ft west of the runway centerline. The airplane struck the tree about 55 ft above ground level. Downed sections of the damaged tree were located near the FIPC, one of which displayed impact scars with small fragments of composite fairing and the airplane’s transponder antenna. A review of the preliminary ADS-B data revealed that the flight departed from Kalispell City Airport (S27), Kalispell, Montana, about 1325 and flew toward 2MT1. Upon arrival near 2MT1, the airplane orbited the airfield multiple times. The flight track data ended about 1sm northwest of the airport. At that time, the airplane was on a northerly heading at an altitude of about 4,375 ft above mean sea level. The wreckage was recovered for further 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from KGPI, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGPI 121955Z 10SM CLR 29/11 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP102 T02940106
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N30SG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.