Cessna 182M accident near Hamilton, Montana, April 8, 1993
On April 8, 1993 at about 1:15 am local time, a Cessna 182M, registered N71654, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamilton, Montana (Ravalle County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1993 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Montana · Ravalle County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182M · all 182Ms on the register
- Registration
- N71654 · no longer on the register · serial 18259705
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ABOUT 15 MIN OF FLIGHT, THE PILOT DESCENDED FROM HIS CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 6,000 FT MSL TO 4,600 FT MSL PRIOR TO ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. HE EXECUTED A 360 FOR SPACING, ENTERED DOWNWIND, AND PERFORMED HIS PRE-LANDING CHECKLIST. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE DID NOT APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT UNTIL HE WAS ESTABLISHED ON FINAL AND HAD SELECTED FULL FLAPS, REDUCED POWER TO 15 IN MP, AND ADVANCED THE PROPELLER FULL FORWARD. WHEN THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS SUPPLIED, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A 'SEVERE/SIGNIFICANT' POWER LOSS. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN SOFT TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND FLIPPED OVER. THE OWNERS MANUAL 'LET-DOWN' CHECKLIST CALLS FOR CARBURETOR HEAT TO BE APPLIED 'IF ICING CONDITIONS EXIST.' IN THE EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS, SEVERE CARBURETOR ICING COULD OCCUR AT GLIDE POWER.
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: 161 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 104 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSO Missoula MT at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.