Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Glasgow, Montana 53223
Thursday, January 1, 2004 19:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and three passengers were completing the final leg of a round robin cross-country flight that originated earlier in the day. Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes into the final leg of the cross-country flight, the pilot received an in-flight weather update for the route of flight. The weather specialist reported low ceilings and low visibilities along the intended route. Additionally, the specialist reported that VFR flights were not recommended due to an AIRMET for IFR conditions, icing conditions and areas of mountain obscuration. Subsequent to receiving the updated weather information, the pilot reported that he was diverting to and alternate airport northwest of his location. After failing to arrive at the planned destination, an ALNOT was issued for the missing airplane. The airplane wreckage was later located southeast of the intended alternate. Infrared weather satellite imagery showed areas of enhanced widespread cloud cover and cloud tops northwest of the accident location on the night of the accident. Dark night conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of aircraft control resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors include marginal weather and dark night conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/1/2004
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Glasgow
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53223
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 480548N
Event Location Longitude 1070651W
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 Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 18
Weather Observation Facility ID KGGW
Elevation of weather observation facility 2294
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 70
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night
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) -17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.71
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 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17223
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jan 2 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 32
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 4 2005 7:34AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions --
FAA District Office Helena, Montana

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3171S
NTSB Number SEA04FA032
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 182G
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18255671
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Apr 27 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3303
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James W. Newman
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Cut Bank
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59427
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MBG
Departure City MOBRIDGE
Departure State SD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CTB
Destination City CUT BANK
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 --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --