# Accident 19910202001499A: Cessna 172, Colstrip, MT, February 2, 1991

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 2, 1991, 19:45 local time
- Place: Colstrip, MT
- Airport: Colstrip Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.9798° N, 106.6708° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9798&lon=-106.6708&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8531B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8531B-1991-03-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172 (registry code 2072402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Reported engine: CONT O300D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 279 total, 153 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA91FA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91FA046) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910202001499A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLYING TOO LOW AT NIGHT FLEW INTO SIDE OF UNLIGHTED HILL. HAD NO RECENT NIGHT CHECK OUT OR RECENT NIGHT TIME.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA91FA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91FA046), Feb 3, 1991: Cessna C-172 (N8531B), Colstrip, MT, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL NIGHT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, HIS LACK OF RECENT NIGHT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, THE…

## Other reports on N8531B (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19840827054019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840827054019I), Aug 27, 1984: Cessna 172 (N8531B), Grand Forks, ND, Minor damage. A 172 tipped up on its nose and wing tip during taxi in strong gusty crosswind. Excessive wind for a Cessna 172.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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