Cessna 182 accident near Miles City, Montana, July 6, 1990
On July 6, 1990 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5665B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miles City, Montana (Frank Wiley airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING DESCENT FOR LANDING, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1990 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Miles City, Montana · Frank Wiley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5665B · no longer on the register · serial 33665
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT DESCENDED FROM 10,000 TO 3,600 FEET FOR LANDING. HE SAID HE EXTENDED THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR DEPARTING TRAFFIC AND AFTER TURNING FINAL, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RESTART TO NO AVAIL. THE PLANE STRUCK A FENCE AND LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY INTO A STEEP GRAVEL BANK. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS FOLDED UNDER THE FUSELAGE AND THE CABIN WAS CRUSHED. THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK STATES 'APPLY FULL (CARBURETOR) HEAT BEFORE CLOSING THROTTLE.' THE PILOT SAID HE USED CARBURETOR HEAT AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT, TO ATTEMPT THE RESTART. THE PLANE'S CO-OWNER SAID THIS ENGINE WAS PRONE TO LOAD UP DURING LONG DESCENTS, AND 'WOULD NOT TAKE THROTTLE.'
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: 1,987 hours in all; 224 in this make and model; 116 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 1,937 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MLS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,602 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.