# NTSB DEN87LA163: Cessna 182M, N70952, Livingston, MT, June 30, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 30, 1987, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Livingston, MT
- Coordinates: 45.700695, -110.530944 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7007&lon=-110.5309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17254
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17254/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA163

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - downdraft (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PLT AND AN OBSERVER WERE CONDUCTING A SEARCH AND RESCUE FLT NEAR THE FACE OF CRAZY MOUNTAIN. THE PLT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING A DOWNDRAFT AND THE ACFT INADVERTENTLY STALLED. THE ACFT HIT TREES NEAR THE RIDGE LINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N70952](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70952-2013-05-03), registration cancelled 2013-05-03, S/N 18259432, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182M
- Registry model: [Cessna 182M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182m) (registry code 2072728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18259432
- Airframe hours: 2800
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: William C. Morse, doing business as H & S Auto Rentals
- Registered owner: William C Morse
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1987, 210 hours before
- Departed: BIL, BILLINGS, MT
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 456 total, 456 in this make and model, 396 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LVM, 15 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 19870630027209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870630027209A), Jun 30, 1987: Cessna 182M, Livingston, MT, Substantial damage. Stalled into trees on a ridge during low level search for a lost aircraft. Pilot blamed a downdraft.

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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