Cessna A185F accident near Lewistown, Montana, November 23, 2024
On November 23, 2024 at about 9:40 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna A185F, registered N9533H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lewistown, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadvertent impact with a rock during a landing on a grass strip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 2024 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lewistown, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1977 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9533H · registry record · serial 18503446
- 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 reported that while landing on an off-airport airstrip with a grass/turf surface, the right main landing gear rolled over a rock, which then dislodged from the ground. The rock then struck the empennage which resulted in substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Debris/dirt/foreign object › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,725 hours in all; 2,400 in this make and model; 2,725 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 16, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,775 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D-172B (piston); 560 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LWT Lewistown MT at 9:30 pm
- Destination: Priv Lewistown MT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KBTM
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBTM 242153Z AUTO 21005KT 10SM FEW047 SCT060 01/M08 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP167 T00111078=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 22, 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | 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.