# Accident 19980618014379A: Cessna 340CESSNA, Lincoln, MT, June 18, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 18, 1998, 22:07 local time
- Place: Lincoln, MT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.1606° N, 112.6807° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1606&lon=-112.6807&mi=10
- Aircraft: N88JH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88JH-2001-07-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 340 (registry code 2076404, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340CESSNA
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO520J
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,400 total, 238 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98FA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98FA105) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980618014379A

## Narrative

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

(.4)DURING PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING, THE PILOT WAS BRIEFED TO EXPECT RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS UP TO LEVEL 6 (EXTREME) INTENSITY ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT, WHOSE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH RADAR AND STORMSCOPE EQUIPMENT, FILED AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) FLIGHT PLAN AND DEPARTED UNDER IFR.  UPON RADAR CONTACT, ATC CLEARED THE PILOT DIRECT TO HIS DESTINATION.  21 MINUTES LATER, WHILE FLYING ON THE DIRECT (NORTHWESTERLY) TRACK TO THE DESTINATION, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A LEVEL 4 THUNDERSTORM CELL.  THE PILOT TOLD AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC), '...[I] HIT A PRETTY HEAVY CELL HERE [I'VE] GOT LIGHTNING ALL AROUND AND PICKING UP SOME HARD ICE.'  THE CREW OF ANOTHER AIRCRAFT DEVIATING TO THE NORTH OF THE STORM SUGGESTED THE AIRCRAFT TURN NORTH TO EXIT THE WEATHER.  ATC RELAYED THIS SUGGESTION, AND THE PILOT REPLIED HE WAS TURNING TO THE NORTH. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ENTERED A RIGHT TURN; RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AFTER APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES OF TURN.  6 SECONDS AFTER THE TIME AT THE LAST RADAR POSITION, THE PILOT RADIOED, '...[I'M] IN A TREMENDOUS DOWNDRAFT [I'M] LOSING ALTITUDE SIX THOUSAND'.  THIS WAS THE LAST TRANSMISSION RECEIVED FROM THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.  A SEARCH FOR  THE AIRCRAFT WAS INITIATED, THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 11 1/2 HOURS LATER, APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 MILES SOUTH OF THE LAST RADAR POSITION. LOGBOOKS RECOVERED FROM THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THE PILOT WAS NOT CURRENT FOR IFR FLIGHT.                                                         (-23)AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED THUNDERSTORM DURING ENROUTE PHASE OF FLIGHT.  PILOT REPORTED 6,000 FT/MIN DOWNDRAFT AND COULDN'T MAINTAIN ALTITUDE.  PILOT ALSO REPORTED PICKING UP ICE.  ASSIGNED ENROUTE ALTITUDE WAS AT 16,000 FT; CRASH SITE ELEVATION 5600 FT. GREAT FALLS AFSS WEATHER BRIEFING AT 06190251 STATES THAT DOPPLER RADAR LEVELS REACHING 57, LEVEL 6 AND ABOVE IN INTENSITY, EXTREME ALONG FLIGHT ROUTE.

## 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 SEA98FA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98FA105), Jun 19, 1998: Cessna 340 (N88JH), Lincoln, MT, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper or inadequate use of the aircraft's weather avoidance equipment, resulting in penetration of a Level 4 thunderstorm and subsequent loss of aircraft control from which the pilot…

## Other reports on N88JH (1)

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

- [Incident 19780726036609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780726036609I), Jul 26, 1978: Cessna 340CESSNA (N88JH), Broomfield, CO, Minor damage. Pilot unable to get gear up indication. Landed with normal down lights. Mains still in uplock, nose gear unlocked.

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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