20140902016339A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 177B · Neihart, MT · September 2, 2014

Date: September 2, 2014 · 12:30 local
Place: Neihart, MT
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N34880
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR14FA362
Reported as: Cessna 177B
Reported engine: Lycoming O-360 series
People aboard: 4
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 3
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 118 total40 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

N34880Registration cancelled Apr 24, 2017 · Cessna 177BS/N 17702061 · Built 1974 Airframe modelCessna 177B Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

At approximately 1200L on 9/02/2014 the owner/pilot departed from great falls int'l, MT (gtf) in N34880 (180HP CE-177-B), with full fuel and 3 passengers for a personal flight into mountainous terrain southeast of gtf.

The accident time is estimated at 1230L 45NM se gtf near Neihart, MT, at an elevation of 7100' MSL. A nearby mountain weather station (MPHYM8) recorded mean wind values from NE at 11KTS with gusts to 22KTS and a mean temperature of 11.6C.

Pilot provided that there were no mechanical issues with the aircraft; but in the course of the flight the pilot stated he felt two "downdrafts."

The aircraft came to rest inverted in forested area and was destroyed by post impact fire. 1 passenger was fatally injured and the 3 remaining occupants seriously injured.

As the FAA filed it

AT APPROXIMATELY 1200L ON 9/02/2014 THE OWNER/PILOT DEPARTED FROM GREAT FALLS INT'L, MT (GTF) IN N34880 (180HP CE-177-B), WITH FULL FUEL AND 3 PASSENGERS FOR A PERSONAL FLIGHT INTO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN SOUTHEAST OF GTF.

THE ACCIDENT TIME IS ESTIMATED AT 1230L 45NM SE GTF NEAR NEIHART, MT, AT AN ELEVATION OF 7100' MSL. A NEARBY MOUNTAIN WEATHER STATION (MPHYM8) RECORDED MEAN WIND VALUES FROM NE AT 11KTS WITH GUSTS TO 22KTS AND A MEAN TEMPERATURE OF 11.6C.

PILOT PROVIDED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH THE AIRCRAFT; BUT IN THE COURSE OF THE FLIGHT THE PILOT STATED HE FELT TWO "DOWNDRAFTS."

THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED IN FORESTED AREA AND WAS DESTROYED BY POST IMPACT FIRE. 1 PASSENGER WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE 3 REMAINING OCCUPANTS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR14FA362Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportNeihart, MTThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude in turbulent conditions over mountainous terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to traverse the mountainous area with the airplane over…Sep 2, 2014 · Destroyed