Augusta Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Augusta, Montana 59410
Saturday, October 2, 2004 9:55 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Shortly after takeoff the airplane collided with trees and rising terrain. In a written statement the pilot reported the airplane collided with trees and rising terrain after departing runway 12. He reported that the airplane cleared trees (approximately 50 feet in height) located at the end of the departure runway, however, the aircraft made contact with multiple trees and rising terrain beyond the departure end of the runway. The pilot stated "we hit trees for 150 yards before slowing enough to hit the ground." The published airport elevation for Benchmark is 5,434 feet MSL. No mechanical malfunctions or failures that may have contributed to the accident were reported.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance which resulted in the in-flight collision with rising terrain. Trees and rising terrain are factors in the accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/2/2004
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 955
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Augusta
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59410
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 472853N
Event Location Longitude 1125211W
Event Location Airport AUGUSTA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3U5
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.58
Degrees magnetic from airport 120
Airport Elevation 5434
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17641
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC
NTSB Notification Date Oct 10 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2005 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena, Montana FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3086R
NTSB Number SEA05LA002
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150G
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15066986
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Frank Schuler
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Dutton
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59433
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Terry Gollehon
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Brady
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59416
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 3U7
Departure City Augusta
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --