Cessna 180J accident near Browning, Montana, September 7, 1995
On September 7, 1995 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180J, registered N7820K, was destroyed in an accident near Browning, 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
CLEARANCE FROM THE GROUND WAS NOT MAINTAINED WHILE ATTEMPTING A VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC WEATHER CONDITIONS. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FOG.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1995 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Browning, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N7820K · no longer on the register · serial 18052754
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE TO A FOREST SERVICE AIRSTRIP, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH OPEN ROLLING TERRAIN. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AREA WAS COVERED WITH LOW FOG AND VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED THE ENTIRE MORNING. WHEN THE FOG DID LIFT, VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT ONE-AND-A-HALF MILES. THE WITNESS ALSO REPORTED THAT THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SOUTH, WHERE THE DESTINATION AIRSTRIP WAS LOCATED, WERE COMPLETELY OBSCURED BY CLOUDS AND FOG. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 740 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CTB Cut Bank MT at 4:10 pm
- Destination: 8U2 MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from CTB, 28 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.