Montana Coyote | N448VQ
July 14th, 2026 | Fredricksburg, Virginia
Accident Location
- City: Fredricksburg
- State: Virginia
- Latitude: 38.26957039898883
- Longitude: -77.44488549768738
- Airport ID: KEZF
Aircraft Info
- N Number: N448VQ
- Make: Montana
- Model: Coyote
- Aircraft Category: Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built: Yes
Pilot Info
- PIC Name: Babcock, Rowland Alvin, Jr.
- Gender: Male
- Pilot Age: 78
- Pilot Hours:
- Flight School: No
- Instructional Flight: No
- Pilot Certification: Private Pilot
- IFR Rating: No
- Pilot Error: No
- Pilot Medical: Basic Med
- Pilot Incapacitation: No
Analysis
- Date: July 14th, 2026
- Time: 11:05 AM Local Time
- Day / Night: Day
- VMC / IMC: VMC
- Phase Of Flight: Approach
- Total People Onboard: 1
- PIC Fatality: 1
- PAX Fatalities: 0
- Ground Fatalities: 0
- Total Fatalities: 1
- NTSB No:
- NTSB Travel: Unknown
- AQP Classification: 17) FAILED FLT CONTROL SYSTEM, U-FIT
Probable Cause
DTSB: The DTSB determines the probable cause of this accident to be failure of a flight control system. NTSB investigators determined that the left aileron torque tube had separated from the fuselage bellcrank. The plane was captured on video approaching Runway 24 before beginning a right turn and moving away from the runway centerline. The NTSB said the plane’s bank angle then suddenly increased, its nose dropped and it entered a descending right spiral. The aircraft disappeared behind a tree line in a nose-low, inverted right bank.
NTSB: NONE
Recommendation
DTSB: Pending.
NTSB: NONE
DISCLAIMER: All data and Probable Cause listings are “Probable” only. They are based on opinion and educated speculation, and are for educational purposes only. They may contain incorrect information and are subject to change as new information becomes available.