# NTSB SEA02LA118: Cessna 182 E, N3387Y, Sweetgrass, MT, July 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 2002, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Sweetgrass, MT - Coordinates: 48.985832, -111.968612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.9858&lon=-111.9686&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Helena FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55113 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55113/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55113 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA118 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions after encountering a crosswind gust during the landing roll. Factors include gusty crosswinds, and a fence in the vicinity of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence ## Analysis The pilot, who was landing his aircraft in gusty crosswinds, was able to successfully touch down near the center of the runway, but soon thereafter encountered a gust that was stronger than he had expected. After encountering the gust, the aircraft started drifting toward the right side of the runway, and because the pilot was unable to maintain directional control, it eventually departed the runway surface. After leaving the runway, the aircraft impacted a nearby fence and sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 2002, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182E, N3387Y, impacted a fence during the landing roll at Sweetgrass Airport (Ross International), Sweetgrass, Montana. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Great Falls, Montana, about one hour prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. The aircraft had been on a VFR flight plan. There was no report of an ELT activation. In a telephone conversation with an NTSB investigator, the pilot said that although he was landing in a crosswind, he was able to successfully touch down near the center of the runway. But, during the initial part of the landing roll, the aircraft encountered a crosswind gust that was stronger than he had expected. After encountering the gust, the aircraft started veering toward the right side of the runway, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. After departing the side of the runway, the aircraft impacted a fence and sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot, there did not appear to be any mechanical malfunctions or failures in either the aircrafts structure or flight controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3387Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3387Y), registered now, S/N 18254387, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 E - Registry model: [Cessna 182E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182e) (registry code 2072712) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18254387 - Airframe hours: 5135 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fred E. Vestal - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 2002, 30 hours before - Departed: GTF, Great Falls, MT - Destination: 7S8, Sweetgrass, MT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 7S8, Ross International, runway 25, 2,900 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 28, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 396 total, 18 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg ## 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 20020702018509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020702018509A), Jul 2, 2002: Cessna 182E, Sweetgrass, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated to NTSB that directional control was lost during a crosswind landing in gusty wind conditions. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 9, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55113. 385 KB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173837&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 350 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173838&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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.