Faust 3 accident near Harrison, Montana, June 30, 2025
On June 30, 2025 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1969 Faust 3, registered N5901V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Harrison, 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 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
- June 30, 2025 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Harrison, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Faust 3, built 1969
- Registration
- N5901V · registry record · serial 301
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 30, 2025, about 1200 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur built Faust 3, N5901V, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Harrison, Montana. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was performing a water landing in the float equipped airplane on Willow Creek Reservoir near Harrison. Shortly after touch down, the airplane pulled to the left. The wings subsequently struck the water before the airplane came to a stop, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The airplane was recovered from the water and retained 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
- Landing gear collapse during landing defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from KBZN, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBZN 301756Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 26/06 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP189 T02610061 10261 20067 57020
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.