# NTSB DEN88LA029: Cessna 182RG, N2283T, Boulder, MT, November 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 25, 1987, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Boulder, MT
- Coordinates: 46.169486, -111.990264 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1695&lon=-111.9903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17421
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17421/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA029

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLT AT 6000 FT MSL, THE ENG LOST POWER. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK CONTAINED 23 GALLONS WHILE THE RIGHT WAS EMPTY. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND ON THE EMPTY TANK. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING ON ROUGH UNEVEN TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2283T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2283T-1994-06-15), registration cancelled 1994-06-15, S/N R18200018 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182RG
- Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R18200018
- Airframe hours: 2260
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-J3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Berg-Branaham Flying Service
- Registered owner: Donald W Bradley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 11, 1987, 57 hours before
- Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Destination: HLN, HELENA, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 338 total, 37 in this make and model, 284 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BTM, 40 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 19871125067209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871125067209A), Nov 25, 1987: Cessna R182, Boulder, MT, Destroyed. Engine failed in flight. Landed gear up in a field. Did not switch fuel tanks. Pilot certificate had been revoked.

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.