Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kalispell, Montana 59901
Friday, September 9, 1983 12:50 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed on an instrument flight plan on a route where mountain obscuration, clouds, precipitation, and possible icing conditions had been forecast. Although the pilot had been cleared to 12,000 feet, he reported that he was having trouble climbing above 11,000 feet. Soon thereafter he reported that he was reversing course and returning to the airport of departure. Although the air traffic controller told him he could not clear him below 11,000 feet, the pilot reported that the aircraft was continuing to descend. The last clearly audible report from the pilot was that he was down to 8,800 feet, and another pilot in the area reported that he thought he heard the pilot say he had descended to 6,200 feet. Soon thereafter the aircraft impacted the mountainous terrain in an area where other aircraft were then reporting airframe icing conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain while attempting to maneuver back to the departure airport after encountering icing conditions. Factors include icing conditions, mountainous terrain, and low ceilings.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/9/1983
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1250
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Kalispell
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59901
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 480712N
Event Location Longitude 1135315W
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 1257 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID KFCA
Elevation of weather observation facility 2932
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13733
NTSB Notification Source
NTSB Notification Date Aug 12 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 23 2003 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N92368
NTSB Number SEA83FA208
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18260174
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Israel Weiner
Aircraft Owner Street Address on file
Aircraft Owner City Garfield
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07026
Operator is an individual? No
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 FCA
Departure City Kalispell
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1226
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BIL
Destination City Billings
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2003 5:21PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --