Siai-Marchetti SF260B accident near Billings, Montana, September 26, 2025
On September 26, 2025 at about 4:40 pm local time, a 1974 Siai-Marchetti SF260B, registered N272C, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Billings, 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
- September 26, 2025 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Billings, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Siai-Marchetti SF260B, built 1974 · all SF260Bs on the register
- Registration
- N272C · registry record · serial 20-01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 26, 2025, about 1040 mountain daylight time, a SIAI-MARCHETTI SF 260B, N272C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Billings, Montana. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 flight. The pilot reported that shortly after rotation from runway 28R, the airplane began to drift left. He applied corrective control inputs and was able to maintain control while in ground effect, but the airplane would not climb. The airplane then drifted away from the runway to the right, and began to settle, after which it struck the ground. The landing gear collapsed during the impact sequence, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aft cabin structure. The airplane 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 takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 20 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KBIL
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBIL 261653Z 32020G28KT 8SM FEW110 FEW200 23/M03 A2994 RMK AO2 PK WND 34029/1601 SLP110 ACSL SE-S FU HZ W-E T02331028=
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.