Cessna 182R accident near Garrison, Montana, January 30, 1992
On January 30, 1992 at about 2:15 am local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N8267E, was destroyed in an accident near Garrison, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: ICING CONDITIONS, DARK NIGHT, FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND AN INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 1992 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Garrison, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N8267E · registry record · serial 18268388
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO AND A HALF HOURS BEFORE THE FLT, THE PLT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR A VFR FLT. THE SPECIALIST REPORTED FLT PRECAUTIONS FOR MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION WITH OCCASIONAL MODERATE RIME OR MIXED ICE IN THE CLOUDS. JUST PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE PLT FILED A VFR FLT PLAN AND CHECKED THE WEATHER AGAIN FOR CHANGES. WHEN THE PLT CONTACTED MISSOULA RADIO TO OPEN THE FLT PLAN, THE PLT CHANGED THE VFR FLT PLAN TO AN IFR FLT PLAN. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO 11,000 FT. SHORTLY AFTER THE FLT WAS LEVEL AT 11,000 FT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS PICKING UP A LOAD OF ICE AND REQUESTED A LOWER ALT. THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND AND MAINTAIN 9,500 FT. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PLT NOTIFIED THE CONTROLLER THAT HE WAS PASSING THROUGH 8,500 FT AND UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT. WITH THE USE OF ANOTHER AIRPLANE IN THE AREA TO RELAY MESSAGES, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN IMC. NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WERE AVAILABLE. AN INITIAL SEARCH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL BUT THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND NEARLY 4 MONTHS LATER IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470U (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Marinex Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MSO Missoula MT at 1:57 am
- Destination: BIL Billings MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft; not recorded at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:18 am from MSO, 52 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.