Three Forks Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Three Forks, Montana 59752
Wednesday, March 21, 1990 16:20 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE DURING LANDING. THE PLANE DROPPED ONTO THE RUNWAY, BOUNCED INTO THE AIR, AND LANDED HARD. THE PILOT TAXIED TO THE RAMP, VISUALLY INSPECTED THE PLANE, AND REPORTED MINOR DAMAGE. THE NOSE GEAR WAS BENT, THE FIREWALL WAS DAMAGED AND RIVETS WERE POPPED IN THE SKIN. AN FAA INSPECTOR LATER DISCOVERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PILOT'S MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/21/1990
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1620
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City THREE FORKS
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59752
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport THREE FORKS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9S5
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 4079
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 690
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 9 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1110
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41690
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N80830
NTSB Number DEN90LA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17266764
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MANHATTAN FLYING TIGERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1830 DRY CREEK ROAD
Aircraft Owner City BELGRADE
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59714
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BZN
Departure City BOZEMAN
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 4100
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --