# NTSB SEA76FTA29: Cessna 185, N9942X, Ekalaka, MT, August 26, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 26, 1976
- Place: Ekalaka, MT · EKALAKA, MT
- Location: 45.8892° N, 104.5517° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ekalaka, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8892&lon=-104.5517&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 155407
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA76FTA29
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76FTA29

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2552  76/8/26  NR.EKALAKA,MT         CESSNA 185          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 56, 13850
        TIME - 2245                    N9942X              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 1400 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT -  EKALAKA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          HAVRE,MT                    GRAND ISLAND,NE             EKALAKA,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 2500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     310
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           30                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- DARK NIGHT APPROACH
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9942X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9942X-1977-07-25), registration cancelled 1977-07-25, S/N 1850142 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Registry model: [Cessna 185](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185) (registry code 2072802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport:  Ekalaka

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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