# NTSB SEA92LA031: Piper PA-24-250, N6408P, Missoula, MT, December 27, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1991, 19:45 local (Dec 27, 1991, 02:45 UTC)
- Place: Missoula, MT
- Coordinates: 46.850372, -113.990921 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8504&lon=-113.9909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41619
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92LA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41619/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92LA031

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION, FAILURE TO PERFORM A MISSED APPROACH, AND IMPROPER ALTITUDE. FACTORS INCLUDE POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS BELOW APPROACH MINIMUMS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF A PIPER PA-24 IMPACTED THE TERRAIN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXECUTE AN ILS APPROAH DURING WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WERE BELOW MINIMUMS.  THE PILOT, WHO HAD DEPARTED WITHOUT FIRST GETTING A WEATHER BRIEFING, STATED THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL. HE HAD ALREADY ATTEPMTED THE APPROACH TWICE, BEFORE LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.  SINCE HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE AN ALTERNATE WITHIN FUEL RANGE, HE ELECTED TO ATTEMPT THE APPROACH, EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW IT WAS BELOW MINIMUMS.  THE PILOT DESCENDED BELOW DECISION HEIGHT, AN EVENTUALLY IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6408P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6408P-1994-03-16), registration cancelled 1994-03-16, S/N 241518 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1518
- Airframe hours: 4000
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-A1C5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Johnson Sales And Service
- Registered owner: Johnson Sales And Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 1991, 35 hours before
- Departed: O6U, JACKPOT, NV
- Airport: MSO, Missoula, runway 11, 10,000 × 200 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft
- Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSO, 2 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 19911226057269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911226057269A), Dec 26, 1991: Piper PA24250, Missoula, MT, Substantial damage. Collided with ground on third try to land. Was low on fuel. With no alternate due to fog. No prior weather briefing

## Other investigations on N6408P (2)

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 LAX70D0113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70D0113), Aug 26, 1969: Piper PA-24 (N6408P), Marble Cnon, AZ, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX66D0248](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX66D0248), Jan 8, 1966: Piper PA-24 (N6408P), Boulder City, CO, substantial 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.

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