Cessna 182 accident near Circle, Montana, September 8, 1994
On September 8, 1994 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N2889R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Circle, Montana (Circle Town County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (CFI) TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE, INCLUDING THE PROPER SECURING OF THE FUEL CAP. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO DIVERT TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT AFTER RECOGNIZING EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1994 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Circle, Montana · Circle Town County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N2889R · registry record · serial 18258489
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF, FUEL WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE CFI CONTINUED TO OVERFLY ONE AIRPORT AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS BECOMING EXHAUSTED AND THE ENGINE RAN INTERMITTENTLY. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN 20-KNOT WINDS. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND REPORTED THAT POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CAP WAS 'CROSS-THREADED AND THERE EXISTED A ONE-HALF INCH GAP BETWEEN THE CAP AND THE WING.'
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,404 hours in all; 181 in this make and model; 195 in the last 90 days; 71 in the last 30 days; 3,143 as pilot in command; 1,198 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,604 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1993; 45 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: ISN Williston ND at 7:10 pm
- Destination: SUN Hailey ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,100 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:14 pm from GDV, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.