# NTSB DEN81FTA11: Cessna T-50, N68006, Ft Smith, MT, July 12, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 12, 1981
- Place: Ft Smith, MT · FT SMITH, MT
- Location: 45.3128° N, 107.9339° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Smith, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3128&lon=-107.9339&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 6, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123582
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTA11
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTA11

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3317  81/7/12  NR.FT SMITH,MT        CESSNA T-50         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 56, 910
        TIME - 1015                    N68006              PX-  0  2  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 300 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          IDAHO FALLS,ID              BISMARCK,ND
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      71
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- CAM DRIVE GEAR,PN 376B,FAILED.SINGLE ENG SVC CIG 1500FT.D/A APRX 5300FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68006](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68006-1984-07-12), registration cancelled 1984-07-12, S/N 5347 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T-50
- Registry model: [Cessna T-50](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t-50) (registry code 2071302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810712040069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810712040069A), Jul 12, 1981: Cessna T50, Ft Smith, MT, Destroyed. Lost left engine. Unable to maintain altitude. Hit ditch while landing and burned. Cam drive gear failed.

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.

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