Cessna 180H accident near Broadus, Montana, May 25, 1984
On May 25, 1984 at about 11:38 pm local time, a Cessna 180H, registered N3481Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broadus, Montana. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. 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 25, 1984 · about 11:38 pm local time
- Place
- Broadus, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N3481Y · no longer on the register · serial 18051981
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION A SEVERE WIND GUST FROM THE SOUTH OCCURRED AT AN ALT OF APRX 150 AGL. THE PLT TURNED THE ACFT TO THE SOUTH AND A RAPID INCREASE IN ALT OF APRX 60-70 FT OCCURRED. THE WIND STOPPED SUDDENLY AND THE ACFT MUSHED TO THE GROUND IN A SLIGHT NOSE AND LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE BEFORE NOSING OVER. SEVERAL WITNESSES CONFIRMED THE ERRATIC WIND CONDITION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,519 hours in all; 1,107 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1,449 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 804 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 19, 1985; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Broadus MT at 11:38 pm
- Destination: MLS Miles City MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:30 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.