# Accident 20161205021579A: Piper PA-31T, Missoula, MT, December 5, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 5, 2016, 13:45 local time
- Place: Missoula, MT
- Airport: Missoula International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.8758° N, 113.9969° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8758&lon=-113.9969&mi=10
- Aircraft: N909PW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N909PW-2020-03-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31T (registry code 7103124, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T
- Reported engine: P&W PT6A SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 130 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA031) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161205021579A

## Narrative

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

WINDSHIELD ON PILOT'S SIDE BLEW OUT AT FLIGHT LEVEL 230.  PILOT INITIATED A DESCENT IN VMC, LANDED AT MISSOULA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## 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 WPR17LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA031), Dec 5, 2016: Piper PA 31T (N909PW), Missoula, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the left windshield due to moisture ingression into the windshield laminate, which deteriorated the strength of the windshield.

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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