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Accidents · NTSB WPR19LA184 · Final report

Cessna TR182 accident near Lincoln, Montana, June 30, 2019

On June 30, 2019 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna TR182, registered N5JB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Lincoln, Montana (Lincoln airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

A loss of control during landing, which resulted in a nose landing gear collapse and runway excursion.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 30, 2019 · about 5:00 pm local time
Place
Lincoln, Montana · Lincoln · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna TR182 No Series, built 1979 · all TR182s on the register
Registration
N5JB · no longer on the register · serial R18201283
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot was landing the airplane in gusting wind conditions with the wing flaps extended to 40°. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a gust and the pilot applied full engine power for a go-around; however, the airplane “did not respond” and the pilot then chose to land on the remaining runway. The airplane landed hard and bounced, resulting in a nose landing gear collapse and a runway excursion. The wing flaps were found extended to about 35° following the accident, and the flap selector was in the fully extended (40°) position. The airplane’s pilot operating handbook (POH) stated that a flap setting less than 40° would improve airplane handling characteristics in gusting wind conditions. Additionally, the POH procedure for a go-around stated that the wing flaps should be retracted to 20° after applying engine power. It is likely that the airplane did not climb during the attempted go-around due to the pilot’s failure to retract the wing flaps; however, the airplane was not examined after the accident and whether a mechanical anomaly contributed could not be determined. Similarly, whether there were any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that contributed to the loss of control following the bounced landing could not be determined.

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

  1. Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
  • Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
  • Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 360 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 310 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: April 9, 2018
  • Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: minor injuries

Pilot-Rated Passenger

  • Seat: rgt
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,767 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2019
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 2,774 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: 38S Deer Lodge MT at 4:00 pm
  • Destination: S69 Lincoln MT
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 22, 4,239 ft by 75 ft
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

12 documents, released by the NTSB on March 17, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

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.