# NTSB DEN84FA086: Cessna T210M, N7399M, Sidney, MT, February 7, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 7, 1984, 08:25 local (15:25 UTC)
- Place: Sidney, MT
- Coordinates: 47.750228, -104.280105 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7502&lon=-104.2801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16198
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16198/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA086

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

RICHLAND FLT #101, A BANK CHECK COURIER FLT, DEPARTED VFR WITH 180 LBS OF CARGO. SIX MINUTES PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION FROM THE ACFT WAS HEARD CONCERNING A ROUTINE LANDING WX ADVISORY. THE ACFT CRASHED APRX 45 DEGS NOSE LOW, GEAR & FLAPS UP IN FLAT, OPEN TERRAIN. A 5 DAY HISTORY ON THE PLT REVEALED THAT HER FOOD INTAKE WAS ERRATIC AND THAT SHE WAS ON A HECTIC SCHEDULE. HER FOOD INTAKE AND AMT OF REST IN THE 24 HRS PRECEEDING THE ACCIDENT IS UNKNOWN.A RELATIVE STATED THAT SHE WAS PSYCHOLOGICALLY WELL ADJUSTED. CONCERNING THE WRECKAGE, CONTROL CONTINUITY COULD NOT BE CONFIRMED DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF A PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTION. THE FOLLOWING AUTOPILOT MODE LIGHT BULBS HAD STRECHED FILAMENTS: ALT (UPPER), HDG (UPPER), FD (UPPER), VOR, NAV (UPPER), AP (UPPER) AND BC (UPPER). LASTLY, AN AUTOPSY REVEALED THAT THE RADIO MICROPHONE WAS IN THE PLT'S RIGHT HAND AT IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7399M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7399M-1984-12-08), registration cancelled 1984-12-08, S/N 21062019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210M
- Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 2593
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Richland Aviation, doing business as Richard Aviation
- Registered owner: Philip O. Petrick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 1, 1983, 49 hours before
- Departed: GDV, GLENDIVE, MT
- Destination: SDY, SIDNEY, MT
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,486 total, 485 in this make and model, 1,315 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SDY, 9 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840207061739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840207061739A), Feb 7, 1984: Cessna T210M, Sidney, MT, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed for unknown reasons. It is suspected that pilot fell a sleep or was medically incapacitated.

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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