SEA96LA179

Factual narrative

On August 5, 1996, approximately 1830 mountain daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, C-GYYF, registered to and being flown by a Canadian private pilot, was substantially damaged during a loss of control and subsequent nose over during the landing roll at the Culbertson Airport, Culbertson, Montana. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The pilot reported that on the leg from Wahpeton, North Dakota, to Poplar, Montana, she encountered strong headwinds and turbulence, and therefore decided to return to Culbertson to land. Upon arrival at Culbertson, she encountered strong, gusty wind conditions. While landing on runway 26, the aircraft was hit by the gusty crosswinds and departed the runway. While the pilot was attempting to complete the roll-out on the grassy area that ran along the side of the runway, the aircraft was hit by another gust and nosed over. Strong, gusty winds prevailed throughout northeastern Montana at the time of the accident, and according to the pilot, the winds at Culbertson were gusting to 40 knots at the time of her landing. While attempting to land in strong, gusty crosswinds, the pilot was unable to keep the aircraft from departing the runway. After it departed the runway, the pilot attempted to complete the roll-out on the grassy area that ran along the side of the runway, but the aircraft was hit by a strong gust and nosed over. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12