Cessna 182J accident near Miles City, Montana, May 19, 1989
On May 19, 1989 at about 1:05 am local time, a Cessna 182J, registered N2774F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miles City, Montana (Miles City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO LAND AND ATTEMPT TO TAXI AT AN AIRPORT WHERE STRONG WINDS WOULD NOT PERMIT SAFE GROUND HANDLING OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 1989 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Miles City, Montana · Miles City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N2774F · no longer on the register · serial 182-56874
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT CALLED THE FSS ON THE AIRPORT FOR AN ADVISORY WHEN THE FLT WAS 8 MI FROM THE FIELD. THE ADVISORY INCLUDED INFO THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 300 DEG WITH GUST TO 53 KTS. THE FLT LANDED ON RWY 30, AND WAS TAXIING TO THE RAMP WHEN A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE TAIL AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER.
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: 609 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 571 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 1988; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: 170 Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: GDV Glendive MT
- Destination: MLS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,602 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 45 knots, gusting 60
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:05 am from MLS
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.