Cessna 180K accident near Billings, Montana, January 18, 1983
On January 18, 1983 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180K, registered N64000, was substantially damaged in an accident near Billings, Montana (Billings airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- January 18, 1983 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Billings, Montana · Billings · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N64000 · no longer on the register · serial 18052860
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TAILWHEEL (CONVENTIONAL GEAR) AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A ROBERTSON STOL MODIFICATION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WITH THIS MODIFICATION, THE PLANE'S STALL SPEED WAS LOWERED TO 28 TO 30 KTS. WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, TOWER ASKED HIM TO KEEP HIS SPEED UP AND LAND LONG TO MAKE ROOM FOR ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT WAS FOLLOWING. A LANDING WAS MADE ON RUNWAY 22 WITH A HEAD WIND AT 10, GUSTING 15 KTS. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED INTO THE AIR. THE PILOT THEN ADDED POWER, LANDED AND APPLIED BRAKES. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL OR BRAKE SYSTEM WERE REPORTED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS TRAVELING AT NOT OVER 15 MPH WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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: 260 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 231 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 539 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 19, 1981; 113 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLS Miles City MT at 8:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,704 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.