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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

February 2, 1986 · Cessna 180 · N2874K

Kalispell, MT

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 2, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Kalispell, MT
Aircraft
Cessna 180
Tail Number
N2874K
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN86FA071

THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING AND FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN TO BOEING FIELD, SEATTLE, WA. HE DEPARTED KALISPELL, MT, AT 1135 MST. WHEN THE PLT ARRIVED IN THE SPOKANE AREA, HE OBTAINED WX REPORTS FOR SEATTLE AND DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND RETURN TO KALISPELL. WX AT KALISPELL HAD DETERIORATED. THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR A CONTACT APCH. THE PLT ADVISED THE SALT LAKE ARTCC THAT HE HAD A SMALL LAKE IN SIGHT BELOW, WAS CANCELLING IFR AND PROCEEDING VFR. ICE FISHERMEN OBSERVED THE ACFT MAKE SEVERAL PASSES OVER THE LAKE THEN HEARD THE SOUND OF IMPACT. THEY DESCRIBED THE WX AS LOW CEILING, REDUCED VISIBILITY, SNOW, AND FOG. ALTHOUGH THE PLT COULD NOT RECALL THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE ACCIDENT, HE SURMISED THAT HE MAY HAVE ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO AN ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE. FLT PRECAUTIONS FOR MODERATE RIME ICE IN CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION FROM FREEZING LEVEL TO 14,000 FT HAD BEEN FORECAST.

Full Narrative

THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING AND FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN TO BOEING FIELD, SEATTLE, WA. HE DEPARTED KALISPELL, MT, AT 1135 MST. WHEN THE PLT ARRIVED IN THE SPOKANE AREA, HE OBTAINED WX REPORTS FOR SEATTLE AND DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND RETURN TO KALISPELL. WX AT KALISPELL HAD DETERIORATED. THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR A CONTACT APCH. THE PLT ADVISED THE SALT LAKE ARTCC THAT HE HAD A SMALL LAKE IN SIGHT BELOW, WAS CANCELLING IFR AND PROCEEDING VFR. ICE FISHERMEN OBSERVED THE ACFT MAKE SEVERAL PASSES OVER THE LAKE THEN HEARD THE SOUND OF IMPACT. THEY DESCRIBED THE WX AS LOW CEILING, REDUCED VISIBILITY, SNOW, AND FOG. ALTHOUGH THE PLT COULD NOT RECALL THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE ACCIDENT, HE SURMISED THAT HE MAY HAVE ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO AN ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE. FLT PRECAUTIONS FOR MODERATE RIME ICE IN CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION FROM FREEZING LEVEL TO 14,000 FT HAD BEEN FORECAST.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:10 MST
Nearest Airport15nm SW
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 180
Tail NumberN2874K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-U · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 47 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Ceiling100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data