# Accident 20140902016339A: Cessna 177B, Neihart, MT, September 2, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 2, 2014, 12:30 local time
- Place: Neihart, MT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.8586° N, 110.6789° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8586&lon=-110.6789&mi=10
- Aircraft: N34880, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34880-2017-04-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 177B (registry code 2073708, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SER
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 118 total, 40 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14FA362](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA362) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140902016339A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR14FA362](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA362), Sep 2, 2014: Cessna 177B (N34880), Neihart, MT, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The 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…

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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