# Accident 19980927034599A: Cessna T50, Missoula, MT, September 27, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 27, 1998, 09:47 local time
- Place: Missoula, MT
- Airport: International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.8995° N, 113.9205° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8995&lon=-113.9205&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6HS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6HS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna T-50 (registry code 2071302, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t-50) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jacobs L4 /R755-7 (registry code 35003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-l4-r755-7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T50
- Reported engine: JACOBS R7557
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 38,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA193) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980927034599A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1998, AT 0925 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA T-50, N6HS, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT AS A 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT, EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE MISSOULA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MISSOULA, MONTANA. DURING THE LANDING ROLL IN A FIELD, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT FUEL WAS OBSERVED FLOWING FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE LOWER NACELLE AS THE PILOT WAS STARTING THE ENGINES IN PREPARATION FOR TAXI AND DEPARTURE. ONE WITNESS APPROACHED THE AIRCRAFT AND TOLD THE PILOT OF THIS SITUATION. THE PILOT DISREGARDED THIS INFORMATION AND PROCEEDED TO START THE RIGHT ENGINE AND TAXI TO THE RUNWAY. SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL OBSERVED FUEL FLOWING FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE. ONE FIREMAN REPORTED THATHE OPENED THE ACCESS PANEL AND FOUND THAT THE GASCOLATOR QUICK DRAIN WAS LOCKED IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE FIREMAN TURED THE MECHANISM 90 DEGREES AND THE DRAIN SPRANG SHUT. THE FUEL FLOW THEN STOPPED. (-23)AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING OFF-AIRPORT LANDING.  PILOT REPORTED UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AFTER TAKEOFF AFTER RIGHT ENGINE FAILURE.

## 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 SEA98LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA193), Sep 27, 1998: Cessna T-50 (N6HS), Missoula, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A quick drain was open due to the pilot's inadequate preflight.

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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