# NTSB SEA98LA114: Cessna 182P, N1878M, Chico Hot Spgs., MT, June 29, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 1998, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Chico Hot Spgs., MT - Coordinates: 45.279842, -110.859039 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2798&lon=-110.8590&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42813 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42813/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate remedial action while attempting to compensate for a change in crosswind velocity. Factors include a crosswind, hills near the runway, and high vegetation (weeds) near 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 - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis Just before touchdown in gusty crosswind conditions, the aircraft flew past a hill that blocked most of the crosswind. At that point, the aircraft started drifting toward the left side of the runway, and the pilot was unable to get the aircraft back to the center of the runway prior to touchdown. Just after touchdown, the left main gear slipped off the left side of the runway into tall weeds. Soon thereafter, the aircraft exited the left side of the runway, and before the pilot could get it stopped, the aircraft impacted a fence. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 1998, approximately 1745 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N1878M, impacted a fence after going off the side of the runway at Chico Hot Springs, Montana. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Billings, Montana, about 45 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which was activated by the accident, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, he was landing in gusty crosswind conditions on a county road that doubles as an airstrip. He said that just as he was about to touch down, he went past a knoll that blocked most of the crosswind. When the crosswind suddenly changed velocity, the aircraft started drifting off to the side of the runway, and he was unable to correct back to the center of the runway prior to touchdown. The pilot said that just after the aircraft touched down, the left main gear slipped off the runway surface into tall weeds, and the aircraft then exited the left side of the runway. Once the aircraft departed the runway, the pilot tried to get it stopped as quickly as possible, but was unable to bring it to a stop prior to impacting a nearby fence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1878M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1878M), registered now, S/N 18264465, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182P - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18264465 - Airframe hours: 3322 - Engines: Continental O-470-S2 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert A. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 4, 1997, 60 hours before - Departed: BIL, BILLINGS, MT - Airport: Chico Hot Springs, runway 15, 6,000 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,024 total, 658 in this make and model, 960 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19980629015259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980629015259A), Jun 29, 1998: Cessna 182P, Chico Hot Sprin, MT, Substantial damage. Landing on unpaved road downwind light gusts. Ballooned. Lost control exited runway. Hit ditch and a fence. (.4)just before touchdown in gusty crosswind… 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.