Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ryegate, Montana 59074
Saturday, August 28, 1999 13:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a VFR cross country flight from Billings, Montana, to Choteau, Montana, the aircraft collided with mountainous terrain approximately 25 miles northwest of Ryegate, Montana. Weather data showed that low ceilings and rain showers were prevalent throughout Central Montana at the time of the accident. Post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC conditions and his failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors include low ceilings and inadequate in-flight planning.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/28/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City RYEGATE
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59074
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 8
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 1256 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID BIL
Elevation of weather observation facility 3649
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 65
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1334
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 29 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 9:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2886Y
NTSB Number SEA99FA150
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182E
Aircraft Series Identifier 182E
Aircraft Serial Number 18253886
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 Aug 24 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 34
Airframe Hours 4450
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GENE A. PATRICK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1207 SW 57TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City CAPE CORAL
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33914
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 BIL
Departure City BILLINGS
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1308
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CII
Destination City CHOTEAU
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 11:29AM
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 --