# NTSB SEA94LA122: Vickers Spitfire Mark Xviii, N41702, Great Falls, MT, May 19, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 1994, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Great Falls, MT - Coordinates: 47.530071, -111.259201 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5301&lon=-111.2592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41927 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41927/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=41927 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA122 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHILE IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION TO ATTEMPT AN IMC CLIMB IN AN AIRCRAFT NOT CERTIFIED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) OPERATION, AND HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT'S IMC CAPABILITIES. OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE LOW CLOUDS ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, climb - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis WHILE MANEUVERING IN AN AREA WHERE THE CLOUDS HAD LOWERED TO SOME OF THE RIDGES, THE PILOT OF THE SPITFIRE BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE ACCOMPANYING AIRCRAFT. AT THE POINT OF SEPARATION, THE PILOT OF THE ACCOMPANYING AIRCRAFT EXECUTED A CLIMB THROUGH INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), TO VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) ABOVE. AFTER DISCUSSING THEIR REJOIN OPTIONS, THE SPITFIRE PILOT ELECTED TO ATTEMPT AN IMC CLIMB TO REJOIN THE OTHER AIRCRAFT ABOVE THE CLOUDS. DURING HIS CLIMB IN THE WORLD WAR II VINTAGE FIGHTER, WHICH WAS NOT CERTIFICATED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) OPERATION, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND DESCENDED INTO THE TERRAIN. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 1994, approximately 1740 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mark XVIII, N41702, impacted the terrain about 41 miles east of Great Falls Airport, Great Falls, Montana. The airline transport rated pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, received fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. According to witnesses on the ground, the personal pleasure flight, which departed Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana, at 1648 MDT, was operating in an area were the ceiling was less than 1,000 feet, and the visibility was occasionally less than three miles. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to individuals in an accompanying aircraft, the flight of two had entered an area where the clouds had lowered to ground level on some of the ridges, and visibility was reduced by numerous surrounding rain showers. While maneuvering through the area in an attempt to find a passable route to Great Falls, the two aircraft became separated, and the accompanying aircraft climbed through instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), to visual meteorological conditions (VMC) above. The two aircraft maintained radio contact for about five minutes, discussing whether they should meet at an airport, or whether the Spitfire pilot would "...get on top...", and rejoin in the air. At the end of the five minute period,, the pilot of the Spitfire said, "I'm going to climb now." No further visual or radio contact was made after this final transmission. A review of the aircraft's log books, and a discussion with the aircraft's owner, revealed that the World War II vintage fighter was not certified for flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41702](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41702-2016-09-09), registration cancelled 2016-09-09, S/N 6S.676390, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VICKERS SPITFIRE MARK XVIII (SPITFIRE M) - Registry model: [Vickers Supermarine SPITFIRE MARK XVIII](https://openairdocs.org/model/vickers-supermarine-spitfire-mark-xviii) (registry code 9470123) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce GRIFFON](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-griffon) (registry code 54501, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 65676390 - Engines: Rolls-Royce GRIFFON 65 2000 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Breit, Best, Richmand, Bosch, - Registered owner: Military A/C Restoration, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 23, 1993, 20 hours before - Departed: BIL, BILLINGS, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 15,000 total, 10 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 12 knots - Visibility: 35 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,200 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GTF, 41 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 19940519011949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940519011949A), May 19, 1994: Amtr SPITFIRE, Great Falls, MT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Tried to climb out on top. Lost control. Dived into terrain. Fighter not equipped for IFR flight. Partal panel skill ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 1995, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=41927. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395285&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Part of NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (No Negative Provided) (item 2, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40019684&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Part%20of%20NTSB%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20(No%20Negative%20Provided)-Master.PDF 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.