Circle Town County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Circle, Montana 59215
Thursday, September 8, 1994 14:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF, FUEL WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE CFI CONTINUED TO OVERFLY ONE AIRPORT AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS BECOMING EXHAUSTED AND THE ENGINE RAN INTERMITTENTLY. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN 20-KNOT WINDS. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND REPORTED THAT POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CAP WAS 'CROSS-THREADED AND THERE EXISTED A ONE-HALF INCH GAP BETWEEN THE CAP AND THE WING.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (CFI) TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE, INCLUDING THE PROPER SECURING OF THE FUEL CAP. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO DIVERT TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT AFTER RECOGNIZING EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/8/1994
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City CIRCLE
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59215
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CIRCLE TOWN COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4U6
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2426
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1414 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID GDV
Elevation of weather observation facility 2456
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1747
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 8 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2889R
NTSB Number SEA94LA236
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182
Aircraft Series Identifier 182
Aircraft Serial Number 18258489
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 2 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 2604
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HORNOCKER WILDLIFE RESEARCH
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 3246
Aircraft Owner City MOSCOW
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83843
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HORNOCKER WILDLIFE RESEARCH
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 3246
Operator City MOSCOW
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83843
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ISN
Departure City WILLISTON
Departure State ND
Departure Country
Departure Time 1310
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SUN
Destination City HAILEY
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 4100
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --