Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wheatland, Wyoming 82201
Sunday, April 16, 1995 22:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ADVISED OF FORECAST OCCASIONAL MODERATE RIME ICING IN CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION FROM THE FREEZING LEVEL TO 12000 FEET. EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED AIRFRAME ICING CONDITIONS. AS THE AIRPLANE ICED UP, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. ATC VECTORED THE PILOT TOWARDS WHEATLAND AIRPORT BEFORE HE LOST RADIO CONTACT. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED DESCENDING UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN IN ZERO VISIBILITY AND NOSED OVER. THE ELT FUNCTIONED AND THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE RESCUED THE FOLLOWING MORNING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE AIRFRAME ICING ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/16/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2230
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City WHEATLAND
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82201
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2150 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID LAR
Elevation of weather observation facility 7278
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1075
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 17 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7011Q
NTSB Number SEA95LA080
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172L
Aircraft Series Identifier 172L
Aircraft Serial Number 17260311
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Apr 15 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HAM, MICHAEL T.
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR1, BOX 97
Aircraft Owner City PECULIAR
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 64078
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MTJ
Departure City MONTROSE
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CYS
Destination City CHEYENNE
Destination State WY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --