# NTSB DEN81FTI20: Beech 23, N2387Z, Deer Lodge, MT, September 22, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: September 22, 1981
- Place: Deer Lodge, MT · DEER LODGE, MT
- Location: 46.3985° N, 112.7327° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Deer Lodge, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3985&lon=-112.7327&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123299
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTI20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTI20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2471  81/9/22    DEER LODGE,MT       BEECH 23            CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 57, 632
        TIME - 1930                    N2387Z              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 81 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          JEROME,ID                   HELENA,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  8000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       20
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2387Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2387Z-2012-09-06), registration cancelled 2012-09-06, S/N M-110, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 23
- Registry model: [Beech 23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-23) (registry code 1151202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810922061459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810922061459A), Sep 22, 1981: Beech 23BEECH, Deer Lodge, MT, Substantial damage. Flew into area of fog and snow, lost control in turning to return to VFR. Struck trees on mountainside.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.