ENNIS, Mont. — A military-style jet trainer crashed in a field near Ennis on April 10 due to an engine failure, according to federal investigators.
The Aero Vodochody L-39 was piloted by U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy and was on an instructional flight when the engine lost thrust during a practice approach to Ennis-Big Sky Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the aircraft was descending through approximately 8,500 feet when the engine “rolled back to zero thrust.”
Efforts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, prompting the flight instructor to take control and perform a gear-up landing in an open field. The aircraft touched down and came to rest about 500 yards from the initial landing point.
The flight instructor sustained minor injuries, while Sheehy reported no injuries. The aircraft suffered significant damage to its fuselage and wings. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.