# NTSB DEN86FA071: Cessna 180, N2874K, Kalispell, MT, February 2, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 2, 1986, 13:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place: Kalispell, MT
- Coordinates: 48.190841, -114.380119 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1908&lon=-114.3801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16805
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16805/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA071

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - wing - ice (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING AND FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN TO BOEING FIELD, SEATTLE, WA. HE DEPARTED KALISPELL, MT, AT 1135 MST. WHEN THE PLT ARRIVED IN THE SPOKANE AREA, HE OBTAINED WX REPORTS FOR SEATTLE AND DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND RETURN TO KALISPELL. WX AT KALISPELL HAD DETERIORATED. THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR A CONTACT APCH. THE PLT ADVISED THE SALT LAKE ARTCC THAT HE HAD A SMALL LAKE IN SIGHT BELOW, WAS CANCELLING IFR AND PROCEEDING VFR. ICE FISHERMEN OBSERVED THE ACFT MAKE SEVERAL PASSES OVER THE LAKE THEN HEARD THE SOUND OF IMPACT. THEY DESCRIBED THE WX AS LOW CEILING, REDUCED VISIBILITY, SNOW, AND FOG. ALTHOUGH THE PLT COULD NOT RECALL THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE ACCIDENT, HE SURMISED THAT HE MAY HAVE ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO AN ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE. FLT PRECAUTIONS FOR MODERATE RIME ICE IN CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION FROM FREEZING LEVEL TO 14,000 FT HAD BEEN FORECAST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2874K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2874K), registered now, S/N 18053110, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- Registry model: [Cessna 180K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180k) (registry code 2072624) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 180-53110
- Airframe hours: 881
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: John R. Glenn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 1985, 73 hours before
- Departed: FCA, KALISPELL, MT
- Destination: BFI, SEATTLE, WA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,284 total, 396 in this make and model, 1,090 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft

## 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 19860202001799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860202001799A), Feb 2, 1986: Cessna 180, Kalispell, MT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Cancelled IFR flight plan, tried to land on fog covered,frozen ashley lake. Impacted ice in a left descending bank.

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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