# NTSB SEA92FA046: Grumman American AA-5B, West Glacier, MT, February 12, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 1992, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: West Glacier, MT
- Coordinates: 48.609806, -113.810867 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6098&lon=-113.8109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41570
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92FA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41570/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92FA046

## Probable cause

THE INFLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH IMC WEATHER BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN, AND LACK OF INSTRUMENT QUALIFICATION BY THE PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
  - qualification, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT ENCOUNTERED IMC WEATHER CONDITIONS IN A MOUNTAIN PASS AND THE ACFT IMPACTED TERRAIN DURING A TURN TO REVERSE COURSE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CGRRZ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B-0279
- Airframe hours: 710
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Smith, Willard A.
- Registered owner: Smith, Willard A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 29, 1991, 82 hours before
- Departed: EG3, LACOMBE
- Destination: FCA, KALISPELL, MT
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 791 total, 307 in this make and model, 746 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FCA, 31 nm away

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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