Cessna 182 accident near Hungry Horse, Montana, July 2, 2016
On July 2, 2016 at about 2:15 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna 182, registered N42469, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Hungry Horse, Montana (Schafer /Usfs/ airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to land on unsuitable wet terrain, and his failure to stop prior to the end of the runway, which resulted in a runway overrun and impact with tree(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2016 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hungry Horse, Montana · Schafer /Usfs/ · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 L, built 1968 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N42469 · no longer on the register · serial 18259029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had landed at the accident airstrip previously in September of 2015 with no difficulty. He further reported that the airstrip had about 3000 feet of runway but about 400 feet was unusable for landing due to its roughness. The pilot reported that on his first landing attempt the approach speed was too fast and he elected to go-around. He estimated his approach speed during the accident landing about 80 miles per hour. The pilot further reported that the airplane touched down about 500 feet down the runway; he applied the brakes but was unable to stop prior to the end of the runway. The airplane overran the runway and impacted trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After the pilot and passenger egressed from the wreckage the pilot observed that the grass runway was wet from the morning dew, and the grass was about 7 inches tall.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 894 hours in all; 812 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 822 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 2, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,245.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470-R74B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Windjox LLC.
The flight
- Departed from: CII Choteau MT at 1:30 pm
- Destination: 8U2 Hungry Horse MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from KGPI, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 6, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Phone Conversation (Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.