# Accident 20250615006509A: Cessna 182M, Three Forks, MT, June 15, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 15, 2025, 11:30 local time
- Place: Three Forks, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.8229° N, 111.6989° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8229&lon=-111.6989&mi=10
- Aircraft: N71450, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71450) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182M (registry code 2072728, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182M
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 886 total, 542 in this make and model, 59 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA176) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250615006509A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOT STATED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT DEVELOPE ENOUGH POWER TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT OR RATE OF CLIMB.  PILOT COULD NOT RETURN TO AIRPORT AND DECIDED TO LAND OFF-AIRPORT IN A FARM PASTURE. DURING LANDING ROLL-OUT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A METAL COW GATE WHICH DISLODGED THE NOSE GEAR AND DAMAGED THE PROPELLER.  AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST WITHIN 75 FEET OF THE GATE ON THE TWO MAIN GEAR WHEELS AND ENGINE COWLING.  THE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE ANY FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT WING TANKS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR25LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA176), Jun 15, 2025: Cessna 182M (N71450), Willow Creek, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Other reports on N71450 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20220708012019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220708012019I), Jul 8, 2022: Cessna 182M (N71450), Three Forks, MT, No damage. On July 8, 2022 [privacy data omitted] was the PIC of [privacy data omitted]departing 9S5 on the ninth trip of the day. The pilot stated" my fuel gauges…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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