# NTSB DEN84FA307: Rockwell 112TCA, N4699W, Missoula, MT, March 9, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 9, 1984, 13:55 local (20:55 UTC)
- Place: Missoula, MT
- Coordinates: 46.849693, -113.990394 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8497&lon=-113.9904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16246
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA307
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16246/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA307

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD FILED AN IFR CLEARANCE.  WHILE TAXIING TO TAKEOFF, HE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED A CLEARANCE TO CLIMB VFR ON COURSE, VIA VICTOR AIRWAY 2, WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO REPORT WHEN REACHING 10,000' MSL.  THIS WAS THE LAST COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM THE PILOT.  WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT ARRIVE AT ITS DESTINATION, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL 11/28/87, WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED BY A HUNTER.  AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT HAD CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ABOUT 14 MILES WEST OF MISSOULA, MT & 8 MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRWAY, WHILE IN A STEEP DESCENT.  IMPACT OCCURRED AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 6400'.  NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS FOUND.  THE 1352 MST WEATHER AT MISSOULA WAS IN PART: 3000' SCATTERED, 4500' BROKEN, WITH MOUNTAINS PARTIALLY OBSCURRED IN CLOUDS AND ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS.  AN AIRMET WARNED OF OCCASIONAL MODERATE RIME ICE IN CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION ABOVE THE FREEZING LEVEL TO 15,000' AND OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURBULENCE BELOW 16,000'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4699W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4699W-1984-07-26), registration cancelled 1984-07-26, S/N 13275 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rockwell 112TCA
- Registry model: [Rockwell International 112TCA](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-112tca) (registry code 7630307) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 13275
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1A6D 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Eric N. Bass
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MSO, MISSOULA, MT
- Destination: TIW, TACOMA, WA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 742 total, 293 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSO, 13 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 19840309006489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840309006489A), Mar 9, 1984: Gulstm 112TCA, Missoula, MT, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Aircraft disappeared shortly after takeoff from Missoula. No trace has been found as of 840712.

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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