# NTSB WPR25LA176: Cessna 182M, N71450, Willow Creek, MT, June 15, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 15, 2025, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Willow Creek, MT · livestock field - Coordinates: 45.82287, -111.69888 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8229&lon=-111.6989&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 200332 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200332/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200332 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA176 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he did not visually confirm the quantity of fuel in the fuel tanks before departure. While about 3,500 ft above ground level the engine began to lose power. Subsequently, the engine lost all power, and the pilot turned back toward the departure airport. The pilot realized that the airplane would not be able to glide to the departure airport and attempted to land on a nearby grass runway. Unable to land on the grass runway due to obstacles, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane struck a metal cattle gate, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing lift strut, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. During aircraft recovery, both left and right wing fuel tanks were found to be empty; no evidence of a breach in either fuel tank was noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71450](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71450), registered now, S/N 18259627, built 1969 (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: 18259627 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 5311.35 - Engines: Continental IO-550-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 11, 2024, 84.51 hours before - Departed: 9S5, Three Forks, MT - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 886 total, 542 in this make and model, 787 as pilot in command, 77.6 in the last 90 days, 48.8 in the last 30 days, 4.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KBZN, 23 nm away - METAR: KBZN 151656Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 23/12 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP145 T02280117= ## 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 20250615006509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250615006509A), Jun 15, 2025: Cessna 182M, Three Forks, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot stated the engine would not develope enough power to sustain flight or rate of climb. Pilot could not return to airport and decided to land off-airport… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200332. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18921976&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120%20_%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, wreckage recovery (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19002033&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20re%20fuel%20obtained%20at%20recovery-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 464 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18921966&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20WPR25LA176-Rel.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.