# NTSB DEN88FA093: Cessna 310I, N8008M, Helena, MT, April 9, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1988, 23:30 local (Apr 9, 1988, 05:30 UTC)
- Place: Helena, MT
- Coordinates: 46.529602, -112.21096 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5296&lon=-112.2110&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17359
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17359/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA093

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather forecast - inaccurate, nws personnel
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - physical impairment(other cardiovascular), pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT DEPD GLASGOW, MONTANA, WHERE THE PASSENGER (SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MONTANA) HAD BEEN CAMPAIGNING. INITIALLY, A VFR FLT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED; HOWEVER, DRG ARRIVAL AT HELENA, AN IFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED WHEN THE PLT REALIZED THE WX HAD DETERIORATED. THE FCST HAD INDICATED CHC OF CEILING 2500 BKN WITH LIGHT SNOW. THE PLT WAS CLRD FOR AN ILS RWY 27 APCH AT 2328 MDT. THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLNC, BUT A SHORT TIME LATER, RADIO CTC WAS LOST. THE ACFT CRASHED ALONG THE ILS COURSE AFTER IT HAD PASSED THE FINAL APCH FIX/OUTER MARKER. WITNESSES RPRTD THAT A SNOW STORM BEGAN JUST BEFORE THE ACDNT OCCURRED AND THE VISIBILITY WAS NEAR ZERO DUE TO BLOWING SNOW. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A LEFT WING LOW, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. WITNESSES SAID THEY HEARD THE ACFT OPERATING AT HIGH RPM AND LOW ALTITUDE BEFORE THE CRASH, OR THAT THE ENG SOUND INCREASED BEFORE IMPACT. ONE WITNESS SAID THE ENG SOUND VARIED FM HIGH TO LOW RPM. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE PLT HAD LOGGED 2 HRS IN C-310 AND 3 INSTRUMENT HRS IN PREV 90 DAYS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8008M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8008M-1991-04-30), registration cancelled 1991-04-30, S/N 310I0008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310I
- Registry model: [Cessna 310I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310i) (registry code 2074224) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310I0008
- Airframe hours: 3650
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Johnson, Ronald W.
- Registered owner: Ronald W. Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 1987
- Departed: GGW, GLASGOW, MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HLN, Helena Regional, runway 27, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 17,809 total, 17,415 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 360° at 13 knots
- Temperature: 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19880408008089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880408008089A), Apr 8, 1988: Cessna 310I, Helena, MT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Evidence indicates pilot suffered heart attack on approach. Last medical was denied 3 days prior but not delivered.

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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