Cessna 182N accident near Condon, Montana, June 9, 1990
On June 9, 1990 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182N, registered N8961G, was destroyed in an accident near Condon, Montana (Condon Usfs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1990 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Condon, Montana · Condon Usfs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182N · all 182Ns on the register
- Registration
- N8961G · no longer on the register · serial 18260501
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT, WITH 3 PAX ABOARD, ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF FROM RWY 13 (3,035 FT X 200 FT, TURF) AT THE CONDON, MT, USFS AIRSTRIP (ELEVATION 3,686 FT MSL). WINDS WERE APRX 1-5 MPH. THE PLT SELECTED 20 DEG OF FLAPS AND USED A SHORT/SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURE. THE ACFT LIFTED OFF BRIEFLY BUT SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND. THE PLT DID NOT FEEL HE COULD ABORT TAKEOFF BECAUSE THERE WERE TRUCKS, TRAILERS, MULES, AND PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE RWY. HE THOUGHT HE ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN DOWNDRAFT. THE ACFT YAWED TO THE LEFT AND CLEARED THE PARKED VEHICLES BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TREES. THE PLT CUT THE PWR AND TRIED TO SLOW THE ACFT BEFORE IMPACT. PERFORMANCE CALCULATIONS INDICATE ACFT NEEDED 1,240 FT OF RWY FOR ITS GROUND RUN AND 2,084 FT TO CLEAR A 50-FT OBSTACLE. PLT SAID AIRSTRIP IS KNOWN FOR WIND SHEAR ABOVE TREE LINE.
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: 127 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 77 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,396 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 5, 1990; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Minuteman Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: S04 at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,035 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.