Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lindsay, Montana 59339
Monday, October 1, 2001 17:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was flying in cruise configuration at 300 feet AGL when the aircraft collided with the terrain. He reported that a communication radio was making wind noise, and he was attempting to adjust it at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he could not remember the details surrounding the accident sequence. There was no report of mechanical malfunction or failure at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain an altitude clear of terrain. A factor was intentional low altitude flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/1/2001
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Lindsay
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59339
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 10
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 1655 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID GDV
Elevation of weather observation facility 2456
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11779
NTSB Notification Source FAA-REGIONAL OPERATIONS
NTSB Notification Date Oct 1 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2002 12:16PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena, Montana

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3910F
NTSB Number SEA02LA001
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 36810
Certified Max Gross Weight 1695
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 24 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours 3100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Gary A. Mariegard
Aircraft Owner Street Address 27 Bridle Bit Road
Aircraft Owner City Clancy
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59634
Operator is an individual? Yes
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 GDV
Departure City Glendive
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HLN
Destination City Helena
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 18 2002 5:22PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --