- Date
- September 21, 1984, 01:15 local (07:15 UTC)
- Place
- Highwood, MT
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8435ZCessna 205
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19840921050339A
- Case key
- 16242
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
At 0053 MDT, the plt radioed great falls fss & requested wx info. He was advised of IFR conditions & was provided the latest observation. The plt requested & was provided a special VFR clearance to depart to the east. He took off at 0100 MDT & reported over malmstrom afb (outside the controlled airspace) at 0106. No further radio transmissions were received from the acft. Subsequently, the acft impacted rising terrain at an elevation of about 3500 ft & aprx 8 ft below the edge of a plateau. The crash site was located about 400 ft above the valley floor. An exam revealed evidence that the acft was in a slight left wing low, nose level attitude & was traveling at high speed. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was found. A toxicological test of the plt's blood showed an alcohol level of 0.083%. About 15 mi west at malmstrom afb, the 0125 MDT wx was in part: 900 ft broken, 2000 ft overcast, 7 mi visibility with fog & light rain. The elevation at malmstrom was 3000 ft MSL.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8435Z
- Reported as
- Cessna 205
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 206-0435
- Airframe hours
- 2,884
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-S, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- L.H. Scribner, R.B. Cartwright
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 17, 1983 · 110 hours before
- Departed
- GTF · Great Falls, MT
- Destination
- 5U8 · Geraldine, MT
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total · 300 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 320° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AFB, 15 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.