# NTSB DEN88FA071: Cessna 172M, N20484, Red Lodge, MT, February 7, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 7, 1988, 16:24 local (23:24 UTC)
- Place: Red Lodge, MT
- Coordinates: 45.189971, -109.239974 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1900&lon=-109.2400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17353
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17353/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA071

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT AND TWO PAX WERE RETURNING TO TWIN FALLS, ID FROM BILLINGS, MT. THE PLT REC TWO WX BRIEFINGS PRIOR TO DEP. THE WX FORECAST INDICATED LOW CLOUDS, SNOW, TURB AND ICING COND ALONG THE INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT REQUIRED THE PLT TO TRAVERSE HIGH MTN TERRAIN. THE PLT RADIOED HE WAS ENCOUNTERING CLOUDS NEAR THE MTNS. THE ACC SITE ELEV WAS 10,000 FT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECH MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT STRUCTURE, FLT CONTROLS, ENG OR PROP. THE FSS HAD FORECAST THE MOUNTAINS TO BE OBSCURED BY CLOUDS AND THE WX TO INCLUDE SNOW AND TURBULENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20484](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20484), registered now, S/N 17261327, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17261327
- Airframe hours: 3402
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Rim To Rim Flyers Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 18, 1987, 53 hours before
- Departed: BIL, BILLINGS, MT
- Destination: TWF, TWIN FALLS, ID

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 152 total, 87 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BIL, 65 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 19880207029039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880207029039A), Feb 7, 1988: Cessna 172M, Red Lodge, MT, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Aircraft crashed in high mountainous terrain in IFR conditions. Destroyed on impact. Pilot was not IFR rated.

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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