Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Near Ringling, Montana 59642
Thursday, June 24, 1982 6:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ALTHOUGH IMC EXISTED OVER MOUNTAINOUS AREAS, THE PLT ATTEMPTED A VISUAL FLT DIRECT TO SALT LAKE CITY. THE PROBABLE FLT PATH OF THE ACFT WAS ONE WHICH IS USUALLY FLOWN BY PLTS ON VFR FLTS. THE COURSE TAKEN BY PLTS DESIRING TO CROSS OVER THEMOUNTAIN RIDGES WEST OF BOZEMAN,MT IS TO FOLLOW THE RAILROAD TRACKS SW OUT OF RINGLING. THE RAILROAD TRACKS LIE ALONG THE BOTTOM OF A VALLEY GENERALLY ON A HEADING OF 270 DEG BETWEEN TOWERING MOUNTAINS. THE MONTANA AERONAUTICAL CHART FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE INDICATED HIGH TERRAIN AT THE END OF THE VALLEY WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN OBSCURED IN CLOUDS. THE ACFTCOLLIDED WITH A MOUNTAIN AT THE 6900 FT LEVEL WHILE ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/24/1982
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 600
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City NEAR RINGLING
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59642
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 6
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 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 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
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) --
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 Unknown
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 6
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 6
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3067
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 Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4538S
NTSB Number DEN82AA115
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model V35B
Aircraft Series Identifier V35B
Aircraft Serial Number D9800
Certified Max Gross Weight 3412
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 832
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEWISTON PROPANE COMPANY
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 187
Aircraft Owner City LEWISTON
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59457
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LEWISTON PROPANE COMPANY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 187
Operator City LEWISTON
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59457
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 No
Departure Airport Code LWT
Departure City LEWISTON
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 515
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City SALT LAKE CITY
Destination State UT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 --