Aero Vodochody L-39 accident near Ennis, Montana, April 10, 2026
On April 10, 2026 at about 6:10 pm local time, a 1984 Aero Vodochody L-39, registered N136EM, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Ennis, Montana (Ennis Big Sky airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2026 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ennis, Montana · Ennis Big Sky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Vodochody L-39, built 1984 · all L-39s on the register
- Registration
- N136EM · registry record · serial 432925
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 10, 2026, about 1210 mountain daylight time, an Aero Vodochody L 39, N136EM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ennis, Montana. The flight instructor sustained minor injuries, and the pilot undergoing instruction was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight was conducted in preparation for an upcoming checkride for the pilot undergoing instruction, who was seated in the front seat. The flight crew was performing a practice instrument approach to runway 16 at Ennis - Big Sky airport and were descending through 8,500 ft mean sea level when the pilot began to slow the airplane and configure it for landing. The pilot stated that as the airplane slowed to 190 knots, the engine rolled back to zero thrust, and the flight instructor reported that when the throttle was advanced, the engine did not respond. The instructor assumed control of the airplane and slowed it to best glide airspeed while the pilot began performing engine relight procedures. The engine did not restart, and with limited altitude available, the crew decided to perform a forced gear up landing to an open field rather than risk ejecting. The pilot provided guidance to the flight instructor during the final approach and flare, and the airplane touched down facing uphill, eventually coming to rest about 500 yards beyond the touchdown point. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage and both wings during the accident sequence.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Jdi Holdings LLC
The flight
- Departed from: BZN Bozeman at 12:10 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16/3, 7,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from KBZN, 35 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBZN 101856Z 36004KT 10SM CLR 13/M02 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP140 T01281022=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR26LA155.