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NTSB Report

January 27, 2000 · Cessna 310R · N87338

Columbia Falls, MT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 27, 2000
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Columbia Falls, MT
Aircraft
Cessna 310R
Tail Number
N87338
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA00LA040

The pilot stated that he had been cleared for and had flown the VOR runway 30 approach. Upon his arrival at the missed approach point, he did not have the runway or the airport environment in sight. He said he had heard that an aircraft that had preceded him to the airport had reported the weather to be better to the south and west of the airport, and had reported seeing the airport from the west side of the airport. The pilot stated that after he arrived at the missed approach point and did not have the runway or airport environment in sight, he continued to the west side of the airport and made a left turn, for a 'downwind for runway 02,' saying he intended to use the localizer frequency to help him find the runway. He then tuned the number one navigation receiver to the localizer frequency for the ILS runway 02 approach. He said he thought a left turn would align the aircraft with runway 02 and, if he did not see the runway, the left turn would place him back near the missed approach point and he would begin the missed approach from that point. The pilot told FAA inspectors that he did not acquire the runway or airport environment visually. He said the number two navigation receiver was tuned to the VOR frequency. He said he did not remember centering the CDI (course deviation indicator) for navigation to the VOR for the missed approach, nor does he remember the localizer needle (navigation receiver number one) being centered. He offered no explanation as to how the aircraft wound up about eight miles north of the airport on the mountainside.

NTSB Probable Cause

Failure of the pilot-in-command to follow the prescribed instrument approach missed approach procedure.

Full Narrative

On January 27, 2000, at 0836 mountain standard time, a Cessna 310R, N87338, was destroyed when it collided with terrain while maneuvering near Columbia Falls, Montana, after declaring a missed approach at Glacier International Airport, about nine miles southwest of the accident site. The airline transport pilot was the sole occupant of the airplane, which was conducting a check-hauling cargo flight under 14 CFR 135; an instrument flight plan had been filed for the flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity at the time of the accident. The ELT actuated, and was instrumental in locating the crash site. The airplane burned after impact. The pilot was hypothermic at the time he was rescued, after about 1400. Sheriff's office personnel observed that the airplane came to rest at about 4330 feet MSL, at 48 24.58N; 114 07.77W. The wreckage distribution path was approximately 75 yards, up-slope, with a slope of 45 degrees up, transitioning to approximately 60 degrees up-slope. After he was hospitalized, the pilot stated to sheriff's office personnel that he had seen vegetation, and had applied full aft elevator before impact. In an interview conducted by FAA inspectors, the pilot stated that he had been cleared for the VOR runway 30 approach, flew that approach, and-upon his arrival at the missed approach point-he did not have the runway or the airport environment in sight. He said he had heard that an aircraft that had preceded him to the airport, a Cessna 208, had reported the weather to be better to the south and west of the airport, and had reported seeing the airport from the west side of the airport. The pilot told FAA inspectors that after he arrived at the missed approach point and did not have the runway or airport environment in sight, he continued to the west side of the airport and made a left turn, for a "downwind for runway 02," saying he intended to use the localizer frequency to help him find the runway, and tuned the number one nav to the localizer frequency for the ILS runway 02 approach. He said he thought a left turn would align the aircraft with runway 02, and-if he did not see the runway-the left turn would place him back near the missed approach point and he would begin the missed approach from that point. The pilot told FAA inspectors that he did not acquire the runway or airport environment visually. He said the number two nav was tuned to the VOR frequency. He said he did not remember centering the CDI for navigation to the VOR for the missed approach, nor does he remember the localizer needle (nav one) being centered. He offered no explanation as to how the aircraft wound up about eight miles north of the airport on the mountainside. The published instrument approach procedure for runway 30 calls for tracking outbound from the VOR on the 316 radial, to a missed approach point 6.4 nautical miles from the VOR, with a descent to a minimum descent altitude of 3480 feet for a straight-in approach. Missed approach calls for a climbing left turn direct to the VOR/DME.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:36 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 310R
Tail NumberN87338
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520M · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 3 kt
Visibility2.5 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point27 C / 27 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:03
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data