Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hardin, Montana 59034
Sunday, October 31, 1982 15:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FULLY SERVICED WITH FUEL (48 GAL USABLE SUPPLY) AND HAD BEEN FLOWN 1.8 HRS PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT HAD RELIED ON HIS FUEL LOG AND FUEL GAUGES, AND DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL QUANTITY DURING THE PREFLIGHT. WHILE ON A GRADUAL DESCENT TOWARD THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. A CRASH LANDING WAS MADE IN PLOWED FIELD ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE AIRPORT. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS AND LINES. THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN .6 HRS ON THIS FLIGHT OR 2.4 HRS SINCE IT WAS REFUELED. AT 75% POWER, ABOUT 24 GAL WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSUMED. RED FUEL STAINS WERE FOUND ON THE INLET FUEL LINE AND ON THE FIRE WALL BELOW THE LINE. WITH THE COWLING ON, THE PILOT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBSERVE THE STAINS. THE FUEL LINE (PN S1236-8-0280) WAS REMOVED AND PRESSURE CHECKED AT 7 PSI. DURING THE CHECK, A SMALL STREAM OF FUEL ABOUT 1/16 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS NOTED. ALSO, FUEL THEFTS HAD BEEN REPORTED AT THE AIRPORT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/31/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City HARDIN
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59034
Event Date Year 1982
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 50
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 Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2424
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 Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2824X
NTSB Number DEN83FTA02
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 177
Aircraft Series Identifier 177
Aircraft Serial Number 177-00224
Certified Max Gross Weight 2275
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 10
Airframe Hours 1405
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DOUGLAS FREEMAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 736 W. DIVISION
Aircraft Owner City HARDIN
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59034
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DOUGLAS FREEMAN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 736 W. DIVISION
Operator City HARDIN
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59034
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City HARDIN
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City HARDIN
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --