What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While enroute from mobridge, SD to cut bank, MT the pilot contacted cedar city, Utah automated flight service station (afss) and requested an in-flight weather update from Glasgow, MT to cut bank, Montana. The specialist reported, in part, that low ceilings and low visibilities were forecast for cut bank. Additionally, the specialist reported that VFR flights were not recommended along the intended route due to an AIRMET for IFR conditions, icing conditions and areas of mountain obscuration. With overcast conditions at night there may have been a very limited visible horizon leading to spatial disorientation resulting in an unusual attitude that the pilot did not recover from resulting in impact with the ground. The aircraft crashed 23 miles southwest of Glasgow, MT. All four occupants were fatally injured, 1 pilot and four passengers.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE ENROUTE FROM MOBRIDGE, SD TO CUT BANK, MT THE PILOT CONTACTED CEDAR CITY, UTAH AUTOMATED FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (AFSS) AND REQUESTED AN IN-FLIGHT WEATHER UPDATE FROM GLASGOW, MT TO CUT BANK, MONTANA. THE SPECIALIST REPORTED, IN PART, THAT LOW CEILINGS AND LOW VISIBILITIES WERE FORECAST FOR CUT BANK. ADDITIONALLY, THE SPECIALIST REPORTED THAT VFR FLIGHTS WERE NOT RECOMMENDED ALONG THE INTENDED ROUTE DUE TO AN AIRMET FOR IFR CONDITIONS, ICING CONDITIONS AND AREAS OF MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION. WITH OVERCAST CONDITIONS AT NIGHT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A VERY LIMITED VISIBLE HORIZON LEADING TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION RESULTING IN AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE THAT THE PILOT DID NOT RECOVER FROM RESULTING IN IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED 23 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GLASGOW, MT. ALL FOUR OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED, 1 PILOT AND FOUR PASSENGERS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.