Cessna 182Q accident near Townsend, Montana, May 15, 1983
On May 15, 1983, a Cessna 182Q, registered N759LW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Townsend, Montana (Pvt Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- May 15, 1983
- Place
- Townsend, Montana · Pvt Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N759LW · registry record · serial 18266088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER IN A PLOWED FIELD OFF THE END OF THE RWY DURING AN ATTEMPTED ABORTED TAKEOFF. THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED ONE ARPT AND LANDED AGAIN AT A PRIVATE STRIP TO ONLOAD A PASSENGER CLOTHES BAG. THE LANDING WAS UPHILL INTO THE WIND. THERE WAS NO WINDSOCK AT THIS STRIP. THE PILOT DEBATED WHILE WAITING WHETHER TO TAKEOFF DOWNHILL OR TO TAKEOFF UPHILL. THE WIND SEEMED TO DIE SO A DOWNHILL TAKEOFF WAS CHOSEN. THE WIND VELOCITY ROSE AS THE TAKEOFF PROGRESSED. THE PILOT SAID HIS A/S WAS ONLY 40 MPH AT 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY. WHEN THERE WAS ONLY 100-150 OF RWY LEFT HE DECIDED TO ABORT. THE ACFT WENT INTO THE PLOWED FIELD AND NOSED OVER IN THE SOFT DIRT.
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: 161 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 614 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 1, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BZN Bozeman MT
- Destination: BTL Billings MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.