Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wolf Pt., Montana 59201
Tuesady, January 19, 1982 19:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A SNOW SQUALL WHILE CRUISING AT 5000 FT MSL ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN AT NIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE DESCENDED TO 4000 FT MSL TO TRY TO GET UNDER THE SQUALL AND CONTINUE. HE WAS UNABLE TO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED AFTER DESCENDING TO 4000 FT MSL. THE PLANE WAS FOUND AND THE SURVIVORS WERE RESCUED WITHIN TWO HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD CRASHED ON LEVEL, SNOW COVERED TERRAIN AND CONTINUED ABOUT 300 FT AFTER IMPACT. AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS OR ENGINE. LOCAL RESIDENTS ESTIMATED THE VISIBILITY FROM LESS THEN ONE MILE TO THREE MILES WITH SNOW FALLING AND BLOWING. THE WIND CHILL FACTOR WAS ABOUT MINUS 50 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE PILOT WAS NOT CERTIFICATED TO FLY AT NIGHT. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 2200 FT MSL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/19/1982
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1915
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City WOLF PT.
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59201
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 1
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1730
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BMS
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
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 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 546
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N35147
NTSB Number DEN82FTA09
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 177B
Aircraft Series Identifier 177B
Aircraft Serial Number 17702232
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 548
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORGAARD FARMS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 235
Aircraft Owner City POPULAR
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59255
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NORGAARD FARMS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 235
Operator City POPULAR
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59255
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City BILLINGS
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City POPULAR
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --