# NTSB DEN84FA295: Cessna 205, N8435Z, Highwood, MT, September 21, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 21, 1984, 01:15 local (07:15 UTC)
- Place: Highwood, MT
- Coordinates: 47.579021, -110.780937 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5790&lon=-110.7809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16242
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA295
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16242/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA295

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 205
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 206-0435
- Airframe hours: 2884
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 48; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840921050339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840921050339A), Sep 21, 1984: Cessna 2105, Highwood, MT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Impacted rising terrain on a dark night with rain and fog in area. Pilot had a moderately high blood alcohol level.

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.