Cessna 180B accident near Decker, Montana, May 28, 1983
On May 28, 1983 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 180B, registered N5259E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decker, Montana. 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
- May 28, 1983 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Decker, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180B · all 180Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5259E · registry record · serial 50559
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TAILWHEEL ACFT GROUNDLOOPED ON TAKEOFF AS THE TAIL CAME UP AND THE ACFT SWERVED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. DURING THE TURN AT ABOUT 40 MPH THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PILOT NOTICED A PULLING TO THE LEFT AS THE TAKEOFF ROLL COMMENCED BUT THOUGHT HE COULD CONTAIN IT SO HE CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BOTH TIRES HAD BEEN REPLACED 41 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. BOTH TIRES HAD EVIDENCE OF SCRUBBING AND FEATHERED EDGES INDICATING EEXCESSIVE TOW OUT SETTING.
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: 238 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 195 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,264 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 1982; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.