Vickers SPITFIRE MARK XVIII accident near Great Falls, MT
On May 19, 1994, a Vickers SPITFIRE MARK XVIII (airplane) was involved in an accident near Great Falls, MT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 19, 1994
- Place
- Great Falls, MT
- Aircraft
- Vickers SPITFIRE MARK XVIII · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.530°N, 111.259°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01398
Official records · SEA94LA122
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On May 19, 1994, approximately 1740 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mark XVIII, N41702, impacted the terrain about 41 miles east of Great Falls Airport, Great Falls, Montana. The airline transport rated pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, received fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. According to witnesses on the ground, the personal pleasure flight, which departed Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana, at 1648 MDT, was operating in an area were the ceiling was less than 1,000 feet, and the visibility was occasionally less than three miles. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to individuals in an accompanying aircraft, the flight of two had entered an area where the clouds had lowered to ground level on some of the ridges, and visibility was reduced by numerous surrounding rain showers. While maneuvering through the area in an attempt to find a passable route to Great Falls, the two aircraft became separated, and the accompanying aircraft climbed through instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), to visual meteorological conditions (VMC) above. The two aircraft maintained radio contact for about five minutes, discussing whether they should meet at an airport, or whether the Spitfire pilot would "...get on top...", and rejoin in the air. At the end of the five minute period,, the pilot of the Spitfire said, "I'm going to climb now." No further visual or radio contact was made after this final transmission. A review of the aircraft's log books, and a dis
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHILE IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION TO ATTEMPT AN IMC CLIMB IN AN AIRCRAFT NOT CERTIFIED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) OPERATION, AND HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT'S IMC CAPABILITIES. OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE LOW CLOUDS ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT.
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Browse: Montana
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
