Cessna 172 N79306

Summary

On 19 June 2025 at about 20:12 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N79306, operated by La Partnership, was involved in an accident near Billings, Montana, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause has been published yet; this accident is still under investigation.

Date

19 June 2025 at 20:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Billings, Montana, United States

Coordinates

45.6353, -108.5274

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N79306

Category

Airplane

Year built

1969

Engines

1

Operator

La Partnership

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Billings → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25FA182

1 person died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. The investigation is still open; a final report usually follows one to two years after the accident.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

On June 19, 2025, at 1412 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172K airplane, N79306, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Billings, Montana. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. Preliminary ADS-B data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration showed that the airplane departed Ostlunds Airport, Billings, Montana at 1407 in a climbing left turn to the southeast. At 1411 the airplane overflew a private ranch and the flight track subsequently ended at 1412 about 230 ft southeast of the accident site. The airplane came to rest underneath a set of damaged power distribution lines on the floor of a coulee. The debris field was contained within about a 75 ft by 75 ft area. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a ground scar consistent with the leading edge of the left wing. Red colored glass fragments consistent with the left wingtip navigation light were noted at the outboard end of the ground scar. The main wreckage was upright, about 18 ft from the FIPC, and was oriented on an approximate heading of 200° magnetic, at an elevation of 3,770 ft mean sea level. Evidence of a postcrash fire was observed throughout the wreckage. All major components of the airframe, all primary flight controls, and the engine and propeller assembly were observed throughout the debris field. Flight control continuity was established on scene. The elevator trim was found to be in the neutral position, and flaps were observed in the fully retracted position. Both fuel tanks sustained hydraulic deformation consistent with the tanks containing a quantity of fuel at the time of impact. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The wreckage was transported to a secure location for further examination. Figure 1 ADS-B Track Figure 2 Aerial view of Accident Site (Courtesy of Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office)

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.