- Date
- May 25, 2000, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- Wolf Point, MT
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N30RACessna 310R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 18, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000525006989A
- Case key
- 49278
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
In flight collision with birds.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Shortly after takeoff from runway 11, about 600 feet above ground level (AGL), the aircraft collided with multiple geese. The pilot stated that he heard 3-4 loud bangs just before the aircraft's windshield shattered. The aircraft subsequently collided with terrain and burned. The pilot was unable to recall any of the detailed events between the time of the bird strikes and the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
On May 25, 2000, about 0845 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 310R, N30RA, operated by Richland Aviation, of Sidney, Montana, was destroyed subsequent to colliding with multiple geese and impacting terrain approximately 5 miles southeast of Wolf Point, Montana. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was being operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Clayton Municipal Airport, approximately 5 minutes prior to the accident. Impact forces and post-crash fire destroyed the aircraft.
Shortly after takeoff from runway 11, about 600 feet above ground level (AGL), the aircraft collided with multiple geese. The pilot stated that he heard 3-4 loud bangs just before the aircraft's windshield shattered. The aircraft subsequently collided with terrain and burned. The pilot was unable to recall any of the detailed events between the time of the bird strikes and the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N30RA
- Reported as
- Cessna 310R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 310R-0079
- Airframe hours
- 11,492
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-MB1B, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Operator
- Richland Aviation
- Registered owner
- Philip O. Petrik
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 23, 2000 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- OLF · Wolf Point, MT
- Destination
- SDY · Sidney, MT
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 696 total · 100 in this make and model · 392 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OLF, 5 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.
Other investigations on N30RA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.