- Date
- April 6, 1982, 20:46 local (Apr 7, 1982, 03:46 UTC)
- Place
- Missoula, MT
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N999LSCessna 320F
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report April 6, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820406070189A
- Case key
- 71727
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During arrival for an ILS-2 approach to runway 11, the pilot was advised to hold at the kona NDB while snowplows finished clearing the runway. At that time, the Missoula weather was 1200 ft obscured, 2 mi visibility with light snow and fog, temperature and dew point were 32 and 30 deg respectively. About 1 min after reaching the kona NDB, the pilot declared an emergency and reported that both engines were beginning to lose power. At that time, he was cleared for an immediate approach. Subsequently, the plane collided with trees and crashed between the kona NDB and the ILS outer marker. During an investigation, all fuel tanks were found ruptured, but fuel stains were found by both tip tanks. No preimpact, mechanical failures were found. Both alternate air handles were found closed. Just prior to crashing, witnesses heard the plane at low altitude. They reported that 1 or more engines were running and heavy snow was falling and blowing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N999LS
- Reported as
- Cessna 320F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 0036
- Airframe hours
- 1,988
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-B, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive/Corporate · Part 91
- Operator
- Three-Twenty Flying Club
- Registered owner
- Three-Twenty Flying Club
- Departed
- BFI · Seattle, WA
- Destination
- C · Piedmont, SC
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MSO · Missoula County, runway 11, 9,499 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 1,615 total · 108 in this make and model · 1,363 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Temperature
- 88 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MSO, 10 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.