Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Swan Lake, Montana 59911
Friday, July 5, 1985 18:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT SAID THAT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED 14 GALS OF FUEL ON BOARD. AFTER APRX 30 MINUTES OF FLIGHT THE ENG LOST ALL PWR AND A FORCED LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN A MOUNTAINOUS CREEK BED. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE ACFT STRUCK A FEELED TREE AND OVERTURNED. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED ONLY TRACE AMOUNTS OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS, LINES, CARBURETOR BOWL, AND ACCELERATOR PUMP. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE GASCOLATOR. THE ENG WAS LATER TEST RUN AND OPERATED SATISFACTORILY. THE FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND CARBURETOR WAS SAID TO BE A RUBBER VACUUM LINE AND AN UNAPPROVED INSTALLATION. THE LINE WAS SO DETERIORATED AND BRITTLE THAT IT BROKE INTO SEVERAL PIECES WHILE BEING REMOVED FOR EXAMINATION. THE PLT REPORTED HE USED A STOPWATCH TO KEEP TRACK OF THE FUEL SUPPLY BECAUSE THE FUEL GAGES WERE INACCURATE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City SWAN LAKE
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59911
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 8U4
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 4
Degrees magnetic from airport 80
Airport Elevation 3670
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1655 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 285
Weather Observation Facility ID FCA
Elevation of weather observation facility 2972
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 6250
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) 806
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 6 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28034
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2432D
NTSB Number DEN85LA181
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 170B
Aircraft Series Identifier 170B
Aircraft Serial Number 20584
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Mar 28 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 2980
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID G. JONES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1441 PENNSYLVANIA #7
Aircraft Owner City CASPER
Aircraft Owner State WY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 82609
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 8U4
Departure City SPOTTED BEAR
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --