Cessna 182A accident near Conner, Montana, February 13, 1999
On February 13, 1999 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N3753D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Conner, Montana (Trapper Creek 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 pilots delayed remedial action during an aborted landing. Factors include a slush-covered runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 1999 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Conner, Montana · Trapper Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N3753D · no longer on the register · serial 34453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted to land on a 1,500 foot grass strip. He said that the airplane touched down 'on the numbers', but he was unable to stop the aircraft due to water and slush on the airstrip. He reported that the aircraft was 'hydroplaning across the grass' and when he applied the aircraft's brakes they 'locked up.' The pilot elected to initiate a go-around. Shortly after lift-off, the aircraft's main wheels collided with a four-foot deep snow bank at the departure end of runway. The nose gear was torn from the aircraft and the fuselage was damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident.
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: 630 hours in all; 515 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 510 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,211 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1998; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MT30 at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 1,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.