Piper PA-24-260 accident near Winston, MT
On January 7, 1997, a Piper PA-24-260 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Winston, MT. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 7, 1997
- Place
- Winston, MT
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 46.530°N, 111.770°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07356
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 6, 1997, at 2026 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-24-260, N9080P, was destroyed when it collided with terrain near Winston, Montana, after an in-flight breakup. The instrument-rated private pilot and his two passengers were fatally injured. The pilot had departed Billings, Montana at 1905, en route to Spokane, Washington, on an instrument flight plan, and was in cruise flight at 14,300 feet mean sea level, according to radar data. The pilot did not report any difficulties. About three sweeps of an ELT signal were noted by Air Traffic Control, but the ELT did not aid in locating the accident site. The aircraft burned after impact. The pilot had departed Colorado earlier that day with a passenger, picked up another passenger in Wyoming, and had stopped in Billings to eat and refuel. He fueled the airplane with 38.3 gallons of 100 octane fuel, topping off the airplane's fuel tanks. At 1813, the pilot called the Great Falls AFSS by telephone and obtained a preflight pilot weather briefing for an IFR flight from Billings, Montana, via Victor 247 to Helena, then Victor 2 to Spokane, Washington. At 1825, he again called Great Falls AFSS and filed an IFR flight plan from Billings to Spokane. At 1857, the pilot contacted Billings ground control and requested IFR clearance and taxi instructions. The pilot was issued an IFR clearance to Felts Field, Spokane, Washington, and taxied to runway 28R. At 1905, N9080P was cleared for takeoff on runway 28R. At 1908, N9080P was instructed to contact departure control. At 1909, N9080P established radio contact wit
Probable cause
Pilot incapacitation due to hypoxia. Failure of the pilot to use available oxygen is a factor.
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Browse: Montana · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
