# Accident 19960905026129A: Cessna 340A, Wise River, MT, September 5, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 5, 1996
- Place: Wise River, MT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.6000° N, 113.0309° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6000&lon=-113.0309&mi=10
- Aircraft: N128RP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N128RP-2014-09-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 340A (registry code 2076405, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA96FA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96FA209) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960905026129A

## Narrative

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

ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE ON TAKEOFF CLIMB, MORE TURBULENCE ON CLIMB. PILOT SAID IN DIVE. CRASHED. (.4) THE PILOT RECEIVED A FULL WEATHER BRIEFING FROM A FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (FSS) ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FSS BRIEFER TOLD THE PILOT THAT MODERATE TURBULENCE AND ICING PREVAILED ALONG THE PILOT'S INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT, AND THAT THERE WERE FORECASTS FOR ISOLATED THUNDERSHOWERS.  THE BRIEFER ADVISED THE PILOT TO CALL FOR AN UPDATE JUST PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.  THE PILOT DEPARTED ON THE FLIGHT ALMOST 3 HOURS LATER WITHOUT CALLING FOR AN UPDATE.  HE RECEIVED AN IFR CLEARANCE AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DELAYS, THEN PROCEEDED ON COURSE TO HIS DESTINATION.  ABOUT 35 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, WHILE CRUISING AT 16,000 FEET, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS 'IN THE CLOUDS AND THE BUMPS ARE BIG TIME.'  ABOUT 3 MINUTES LATER, THE PILOT RADIOED THAT HE WAS 'IN A DIVE AND I DON'T...'  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN IN A NOSE-DOWN, INVERTED ATTITUDE AND EXPLODED.  ANALYSIS OF RECORDED RADAR AND METEOROLOGICAL DATA INDICATES THAT THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A THUNDERSTORM, STRONG UPDRAFTS, DOWNDRAFTS, AND TURBULENCE.

## 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 SEA96FA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96FA209), Sep 5, 1996: Cessna 340A (N128RP), Wise River, MT, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's attempt to fly in adverse meteorological conditions which led a loss of aircraft control. Factors contributing to the accident include: the pilot's failure to obtain the most current…

## Other reports on N128RP (1)

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

- [Incident 19950109001929I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950109001929I), Jan 9, 1995: Cessna 340A (N128RP), Twin Falls, ID, Minor damage. Narrative: the pilot furnished the following information: during an attempted crosswind landing, two strong gusts of wind caused the aircraft to go to the left…

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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