# NTSB SEA94LA003: Cessna 180H, N9002M, Denton, MT, October 3, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 1993, 12:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Denton, MT - Coordinates: 47.449153, -109.919349 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4492&lon=-109.9193&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41830 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41830/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA003 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH TERRAIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE UNFAVORABLE WINDS AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADQUATE COMPENSATION (PREMATURE CROSSWIND TURN) FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT EXECUTED A WESTBOUND TAKEOFF FROM A SINGLE LANE, GRAVEL, SERVICE ROAD, AND REPORTED 20 KNOT WESTERLY WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING DEPARTURE HE TURNED LEFT AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND HEADING SOUTH. THE INITIAL GROUND IMPACT SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET SOUTH OF THE EAST/WEST GRAVEL ROAD FROM WHICH HE TOOK OFF. ## Factual narrative On October 3, 1993, at approximately 1220 hours mountain daylight time (MDT), a Cessna 180H, N9002M, registered to and being flown by Kirk J. Hohenberger, a certificated airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with terrain while executing a crosswind climbout turn approximately 9 miles east of Stanford, Montana. The pilot suffered serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated in accordance with the requirements set forth in 14CFR91 and was destined for Billings, Montana. The pilot, who had a total of 7000 hours of flight experience of which 650 was in the Cessna 180, reported that he took off westbound on a "private gravel strip" into strong westerly winds ("20 knots with possible gusts to 30 knots"). He reported that the aircraft gained altitude rapidly during the initial climb and that "at approximately 300-400 feet AGL, I started a turn to the left and lower(ed) the nose to build airspeed." The pilot also reported that "as I turned base leg and then downwind the airplane started to drop in altitude" and that "there was no warning(s), no stall horn, buffet, mushiness or slowing of airspeed." The pilot reported utilizing full power at the time and also reported no powerplant problems. Sheriff Steve K. Knecht, Judith Basin County, Montana, who responded to the accident, reported that the aircraft took off westbound from a single lane, gravel service road which terminates at the intersection of the north/south county road linking Denton to Moccasin and becomes and east/west county road at the intersection proceeding westbound to Stanford (refer to Chart I and photograph 01). It was not known where on the road the aircraft began its takeoff roll, but it was believed to be somewhere between the Savelle ranch and a point abeam where the aircraft came to rest, a distance of approximately 1500 feet. The aircraft was observed to have come to rest at a point 150 to 200 yards south of the east/west service road and approximately 200 yards east of the north/south county road. The longitudinal axis of the aircraft was oriented roughly north/south with the nose pointed north and gouges/ground slide scars were observed progressing north 50 to 100 yards back to the initial ground impact scar (refer to photograph 02). The sheriff reported that a power line existed along the south edge of the east/west service road and the height of the power line was estimated to be 25-30 feet AGL based on the Sheriff's report of the adjacent fence posts being 4 feet in height (refer to photograph 01). The distance between these lines and the initial ground impact site was approximately 100 yards. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9002M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9002M-2018-04-24), registration cancelled 2018-04-24, S/N 18052102, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180H - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052102 - Airframe hours: 1280 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hohenberger, Kirk J. - Registered owner: Hohenberger, Kirk, J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: BIL, BILLINGS, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 650 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LWT, 23 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 19931003037449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931003037449A), Oct 3, 1993: Cessna 180H, Denton, MT, Substantial damage. Took off from a road. Reported high sink rate on climbing crosswind leg. Crashed. Powerlines cross gravel road. 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.