What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On April 6, 1998, at 0900 LCL, a/c N9131V, a Mooney, departed havre, Montana, for home of record in jordan, Montana. Weather at havre was reported at 0900 hours, 08010KT, 10SM, OVCO18, 05/02, A2983. The weather at jordan, Montana, was foggy and low overcast as reported by the local sheriff. The pilotprivacy data omittedattempted the flight and the aircraft was discovered in the mountains at LAT-48"19', long 08" 31', which is approximately 87 NM northwest of jordan. (.4)after intentionally entering an area of adverse weather along his intended route, the pilot attempted to maneuver through forested mountainous terrain. While attempting to fly through the mountainous terrain in an area where visibility was limited by low ceilings, fog, snow showers, and drizzle, the pilot failed to maintain clearance from the trees.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON APRIL 6, 1998, AT 0900 LCL, A/C N9131V, A MOONEY, DEPARTED HAVRE, MONTANA, FOR HOME OF RECORD IN JORDAN, MONTANA. WEATHER AT HAVRE WAS REPORTED AT 0900 HOURS, 08010KT, 10SM, OVCO18, 05/02, A2983. THE WEATHER AT JORDAN, MONTANA, WAS FOGGY AND LOW OVERCAST AS REPORTED BY THE LOCAL SHERIFF. THE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA ^ATTEMPTED THE FLIGHT AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DISCOVERED IN THE MOUNTAINS AT LAT-48"19', LONG 08" 31', WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 87 NM NORTHWEST OF JORDAN. (.4)AFTER INTENTIONALLY ENTERING AN AREA OF ADVERSE WEATHER ALONG HIS INTENDED ROUTE, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THROUGH FORESTED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY THROUGH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN AN AREA WHERE VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED BY LOW CEILINGS, FOG, SNOW SHOWERS, AND DRIZZLE, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.