Preliminary information
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.
Text from the NTSB; a preliminary report can change and names no cause. Open the NTSB docket for WPR25LA295 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 26, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Billings, Montana
- Nearest airport
- (BIL)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Siai-Marchetti SF260B
- N-number
- N272C
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1974
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.