# NTSB SEA92FA105: Cessna 182R, N8267E, Garrison, MT, January 30, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 29, 1992, 19:15 local (Jan 30, 1992, 02:15 UTC)
- Place: Garrison, MT
- Coordinates: 46.589839, -112.829597 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5898&lon=-112.8296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41578
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92FA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41578/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92FA105

## Probable cause

POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION.  FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: ICING CONDITIONS, DARK NIGHT, FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND AN INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

TWO AND A HALF HOURS BEFORE THE FLT, THE PLT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR A VFR FLT. THE SPECIALIST REPORTED FLT PRECAUTIONS FOR MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION WITH OCCASIONAL MODERATE RIME OR MIXED ICE IN THE CLOUDS. JUST PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE PLT FILED A VFR FLT PLAN AND CHECKED THE WEATHER AGAIN FOR CHANGES. WHEN THE PLT CONTACTED MISSOULA RADIO TO OPEN THE FLT PLAN, THE PLT CHANGED THE VFR FLT PLAN TO AN IFR FLT PLAN. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO 11,000 FT. SHORTLY AFTER THE FLT WAS LEVEL AT 11,000 FT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS PICKING UP A LOAD OF ICE AND REQUESTED A LOWER ALT. THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND AND MAINTAIN 9,500 FT. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PLT NOTIFIED THE CONTROLLER THAT HE WAS PASSING THROUGH 8,500 FT AND UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT. WITH THE USE OF ANOTHER AIRPLANE IN THE AREA TO RELAY MESSAGES, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN IMC. NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WERE AVAILABLE. AN INITIAL SEARCH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL BUT THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND NEARLY 4 MONTHS LATER IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8267E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8267E-1993-06-15), registration cancelled 1993-06-15, S/N 18268388 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182R
- Registry model: [Cessna 182R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182r) (registry code 2072731) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18268388
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470U 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Marinex Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: Marinex Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1991
- Departed: MSO, MISSOULA, MT
- Destination: BIL, BILLINGS, MT
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 300 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSO, 52 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920129004759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920129004759A), Jan 29, 1992: Cessna 182R, Garrison, MT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Unable to sustain altitude due airframe icing. Crashed in tree covered mountains. Pilot died due to hypothermia.

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.