Cessna 180A accident near Polson, Montana, June 19, 2015
On June 19, 2015 at about 7:40 pm local time, a 1957 Cessna 180A, registered N9699B, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Polson, Montana (Polson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during approach for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2015 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Polson, Montana · Polson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180A, built 1957 · all 180As on the register
- Registration
- N9699B · no longer on the register · serial 32996
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while the airplane was on approach and about 3 miles from the airport, the engine lost all power. The pilot continued the descent while maintaining the best glide airspeed and performing the engine restart procedures, which included applying carburetor heat. Despite the pilot's efforts, the engine would not restart, and he initiated a forced landing to a small field. During the landing, the landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted terrain. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, a weather reporting facility located 37 nautical miles north of the accident site recorded a temperature and dew point that were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at glide power. However, it could not be determined whether carburetor ice caused the power loss.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,785 hours in all; 290 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 2,703 as pilot in command; 477 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,973 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 1,873 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 66S Coolin ID at 6:40 pm
- Destination: 8S1 Polson MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,195 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9699B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.