# NTSB DEN82DA087: Cessna 185A, N4175Y, Marion, MT, May 15, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: May 15, 1982, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Marion, MT
- Coordinates: 48.109043, -114.789855 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1090&lon=-114.7899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 15, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71583
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82DA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71583/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA087

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH, HE LOST ALL CONTROL, WHILE AT AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 74 MPH, AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. HE REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS VARIABLE AT 10 GUSTING 20 KTS. ABOUT 35 MILES AWAY AT KALISPELL, MT, THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 240 DEGREES AT 5 KTS. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 5000 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4175Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1850375
- Airframe hours: 2665
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-F 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Tomahawk Flight Enterprises
- Registered owner: Tomahawk Flight Enterprises
- Departed: MARION, MT
- Destination: MARION, MT
- Airport: Lost Prairie-Carson Field, runway 30, 4,000 × 70 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,478 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 2,369 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 162 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FCA, 35 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820515015919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820515015919A), May 15, 1982: Cessna 185A, Marion, MT, Substantial damage. Returning from parachute drop, pilot Lost control during landing. Stalled aircraft which dropped nose down.

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.

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