# NTSB DEN85FA153: Piper PA-32R-300, N75063, Melstone, MT, June 9, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1985, 07:40 local (13:40 UTC)
- Place: Melstone, MT
- Coordinates: 46.569301, -107.929519 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5693&lon=-107.9295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16541
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16541/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA153

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - incapacitation, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED IN A LEFT TURN IN A STEEP DIVE UNTIL IT PASSED OUT OF VIEW BEHIND A HILL. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF AIRFRAME OR ENGINE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE PIROR TO THE CRASH. MEDICAL FINDINGS REVEALED THE PLT, SOLE OCCUPANT, HAD 90 PERCENT NARROWING OF BOTH CORONARY ARTERIES AND EVIDENCE OF RECENT HEMORRAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75063](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75063-1985-12-11), registration cancelled 1985-12-11, S/N 32R-7680254 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R7680254
- Engines: LYCOMING IO540-K1 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles Trower
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 16, 1985, 375 hours before
- Departed: MELSTONE, MT
- Destination: BIL, BILLINGS, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BIL, 60 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 19850609023319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850609023319A), Jun 9, 1985: Piper PA32R300, Melstone, MT, Destroyed. After takeoff aircraft made a turn, descended into the ground. Suspect pilot had chest pain, disabling arrhythmia.

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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