Cessna 152 accident near Hamilton, Montana, May 23, 1983
On May 23, 1983 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5112Q, was destroyed in an accident near Hamilton, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1983 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5112Q · no longer on the register · serial 15285076
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS FLYING UPHILL AT LOW ALT WHEN IT STRUCK THE TOP OF 4 TREES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 40 YARDS AWAY INVERTED WITH POWER ON AT LOW AIRSPEED. THE ELEVATION AT THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 6000 FT MSL WITH THE TOPS OF THE TERRAIN IN THE DIRECTION OF FLT ABOUT 7000 FT MSL. THE CANYON AT THIS POINT WAS VERY NARROW WITH A STEEP INCLINE FORWARD AND ON BOTH SIDES. THE RIGHT WING FLAP WAS FOUND ALMOST IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 59 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 992 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 25, 1983; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Hamilton Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 6S5 Hamilton MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.