Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Browning, Montana 59417
Thursday, September 7, 1995 10:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE EN ROUTE TO A FOREST SERVICE AIRSTRIP, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH OPEN ROLLING TERRAIN. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AREA WAS COVERED WITH LOW FOG AND VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED THE ENTIRE MORNING. WHEN THE FOG DID LIFT, VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT ONE-AND-A-HALF MILES. THE WITNESS ALSO REPORTED THAT THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SOUTH, WHERE THE DESTINATION AIRSTRIP WAS LOCATED, WERE COMPLETELY OBSCURED BY CLOUDS AND FOG. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

CLEARANCE FROM THE GROUND WAS NOT MAINTAINED WHILE ATTEMPTING A VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC WEATHER CONDITIONS. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FOG.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/7/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City BROWNING
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59417
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 9
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 41
Weather Observation Facility ID CTB
Elevation of weather observation facility 3854
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 28
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 600
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) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1151
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 7 1995 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 7 2000 4:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7820K
NTSB Number SEA95FA209
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 180J
Aircraft Series Identifier 180J
Aircraft Serial Number 18052754
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 14 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 740
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORMAN C. EBERHARDT
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 281
Aircraft Owner City CUT BANK
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59427
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 CTB
Departure City CUT BANK
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1010
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 8U2
Destination City
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 --