# NTSB DEN83LA181: Cessna 182, N5479B, Forsyth, MT, July 17, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 17, 1983, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Forsyth, MT
- Coordinates: 46.259506, -106.670211 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2595&lon=-106.6702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16130
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA181
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16130/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA181

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE FLT ORIGINATED AT CAMBRIDGE, ID WITH A PLANNED REFUELING STOP AT BILLINGS, MT. THE PLT STATED THE ACFT WAS 'TOPPED OFF' AT CAMBRIDGE BEFORE TAKEOFF. EN ROUTE, SOUTHERLY WINDS WERE ENCOUNTERED WHICH DRIFTED THE ACFT NORTH, SO A REFUELING STOP WAS MADE AT ROUNDUP, MT. NO FUEL WAS AVAILABLE & THE PLT ESTIMATED 15 GAL WAS REMAINING, S0 HE ELECTED TO FLY 81 MI TO FORSYTH, MT. DURING ARRIVAL AT FORSYTH, THE ENG LOST POWER. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE ACFT WENT THRU A FENCE, THEN HIT ANOTHER FENCE & 2 TREES. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE DRAINED 5 GAL OF FUEL FROM THE ACFT (WHICH WAS LEAKING FUEL). THE ACFT HELD 3.5 GAL OF UNUSABLE FUEL. LATER, THE ENG WAS STARTED & RUN TO 1500 RPM, BUT NO HIGHER DUE TO A BENT BLADE. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED NO PREIMPACT DISCREPANCIES. THE TEMP WAS 88 DEG, BUT THE DEW POINT WAS UNKNOWN. APRX 9 GAL OF FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO FLY TO FORSYTH FROM ROUNDUP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5479B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5479B-1985-03-27), registration cancelled 1985-03-27, S/N 33479 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 33479
- Airframe hours: 2700
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jerry C. Jaeger
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1983, 16 hours before
- Departed: RPX, ROUNDUP, MT
- Airport: 153, Tillitt, runway 8, 4,800 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,375 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,375 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F

## 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 19830717041489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830717041489A), Jul 17, 1983: Cessna 182, Forsyth, MT, Substantial damage. Engine quit during final approach for landing. Pilot had been unable to purchase gas during previous landing.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.