# NTSB SEA78FA017: Aero Comdr 500B, N6308U, Miles City, MT, January 5, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 5, 1978
- Place: Miles City, MT · MILES CITY, MT
- Location: 46.4058° N, 105.8389° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Miles City, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4058&lon=-105.8389&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 18, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143469
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA78FA017
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78FA017

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2400   78/1/5  NR.MILES CITY,MT      AERO COMDR 500B     CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 0205                    N6308U              PX-  0  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      30, 3414 TOTAL HOURS, 416
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO S-D        IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          BILLINGS,MT                 WOLF POINT,MT               MILES CITY,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LOW ALT,HIGH SPD SEPN L WING OUTBD SECT.NITE MAIL FLT OVR UNLIGHTED TERRAIN.RPTD CLMBG TO 6000FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6308U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6308U-1981-05-07), registration cancelled 1981-05-07, S/N 1309-121 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMDR 500B
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (registry code 0141106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Miles City Muni

## 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 19780105027119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780105027119A), Jan 5, 1978: Rkwell 500B, Miles City, MT, Destroyed. Low alt,high spd sepn l wing outbd sect. Nite mail flt ovr unlighterrain. Rptd clmbg to 6000FT.

## Other investigations on N6308U (1)

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.

- [NTSB MKC69I0060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC69I0060), May 22, 1969: Aero Comdr 500-B (N6308U), Iowa City, IA, incident, no damage

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.