Cessna 182G accident near Hardin, Montana, November 7, 1996
On November 7, 1996 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182G, registered N3126S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hardin, Montana (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during the landing, and his failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft after touched down. Factors relating to the accident included the pilot's abrupt movement of the throttle as he attempted to initiate a go-around, the strong/gusty/quartering crosswind, and a ditch near the edge of the airstrip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 1996 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hardin, Montana · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182G · all 182Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3126S · no longer on the register · serial 182-55626
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot made an approach to land on runway 28 with with the wind from 310 degrees at 25 gusting 40 knots. He encountered a strong gust just as the aircraft touched down. Because he was having trouble controlling the aircraft in the strong wind, he initiated a go-around, but advanced the throttle (in a manner that he believed was) too abrupt, resulting in a loss of engine power. He then transitioned back to the landing, but did not keep the aircraft from departing the side of the runway. After the aircraft departed the runway, it hit a ditch and nosed over.
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: 980 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 980 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 1996; 10 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: GGW Glasgow MT at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 25 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.