# NTSB WPR19LA055: Cessna 180, N4934A, Townsend, MT, January 2, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 2, 2019, 16:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Townsend, MT - Coordinates: 46.289165, -111.519447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2892&lon=-111.5194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Continental Motors Group, FAA, Textron Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 98825 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98825/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98825 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at low level, which resulted in a wire strike and subsequent impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis There were no witnesses to the accident; however, a witness saw the airplane flying about 10 to 15 feet above the river before it disappeared from view behind the riverbank. The pilot reported that he had no memory of the event and could not recall the accident flight; the passenger stated that, near the end of the flight, “a line wire got in the way.” The airplane came to rest in a snow-covered field about 1/4 mile from power transmission lines that had been broken, and the vertical stabilizer displayed damage consistent with a wire strike. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s decision to operate at low level, and his failure to maintain clearance from power lines. Astronomical data revealed that the accident occurred about 1 minute before sunset, which may have contributed to the pilot’s failure to see and avoid the power lines. ## Factual narrative On January 2, 2019, about 1650 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N4934A, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Townsend, Montana. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness reported that the airplane was flying in a westerly direction about 2 1/2 miles west of Townsend Airport (8U8), Townsend, Montana, then made a sharp left turn over the river. The witness estimated that the airplane was about 15 to 20 ft above the river and was so low that he lost sight of it, as it was lower than the riverbank. He further stated that, although the airplane was low, it appeared that the pilot was in control, and there were no indications that the airplane was in distress. The pilot reported that he had no memory of the event and could not recall the accident flight. The passenger stated that, near the end of the flight, “a line wire got in the way.” Local law enforcement received reports that an airplane had crashed and that power transmission lines crossing the Missouri River were broken. The utility company that supplied electricity to the area stated that an electrical outage was reported about 1650. The wreckage was located in a snow-covered field about 1/4 mile southeast of a set of power transmission lines that spanned the river in a southwest-to-northeast direction (see figure). A broken tree limb and ground scars at the accident site were consistent with the airplane flying east over the river before impacting a tree and then the ground. The airplane came to rest upright, and the landing gear separated. The wings were buckled and partially separated near the fuselage. The forward fuselage and cabin area were crushed and distorted. The rear fuselage was buckled near the empennage. The empennage was missing the rudder and about 12 inches of the upper vertical stabilizer. Figure - Google Earth view, accident site. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Several impact marks were found on the rudder consistent with a cable strike, and the vertical stabilizer showed cable strikes and electrical arcing. Astronomical data obtained from the United States Naval Observatory for the accident site on the day of the accident indicated that sunset was at 1651, the end of civil twilight was at 1726, and moonset was at 1442. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4934A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4934A), registered now, S/N 32331, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32331 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 2508 - Engines: Continental O-470 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Caleb Arnold - Registered owner: Hawkes Darin M - Airworthiness certificate: None - Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 2018 - Departed: BZN, Townsend, MT - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: HLN, 30 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 20190102016809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190102016809A), Jan 2, 2019: Cessna 180, Townsend, MT, Substantial damage. On January 2, 2019, about 1650 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, airplane, N4934A, impacted powerlines and terrain while maneuvering at low altitude near… ## Docket (11 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 16, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98825. 40.1 MB in all. - Record of conversation-antonick (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13110736&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Antonick-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation-sautter (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13424881&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Sautter-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation-caleb arnold (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13111855&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Caleb%20Arnold_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation-lee arnold (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13112046&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Lee%20Arnold_Redacted-Rel.pdf - U.S.naval observatory astronomical applications department (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13111890&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Sunrise%20and%20Sunset%20Information-Rel.pdf - NTSB wreckage examination summary (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 291 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13425068&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19FA055%20Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Textron aviation technical report (item 7, PDF, 6 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13111678&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Tech%20Report%2032331_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Cmg-engine examination report (item 8, PDF, 27 pages, 32.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13112350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=18-346%20N4934A%20Engine%20Examination%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation-cmg (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13111900&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CMG%20Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation-textron aviation (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13145255&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA055%20-%20NTSB%20Party%20Rep%20Form%20-%20Textron%20Aviation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array-courtesy of the broadwater county sheriff (item 11, PDF, 6 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13111982&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-PD-Rel.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.