Mooney M20F accident near Lodgepole, MT
On April 6, 1998, a Mooney M20F (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lodgepole, MT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 6, 1998
- Place
- Lodgepole, MT
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.780°N, 108.530°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X09953
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 6, 1998, approximately 0900 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20F, N9131V, impacted trees while flying through mountainous terrain near Lodgepole, Montana. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, received fatal injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, was destroyed. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight, which was en route to a private airstrip on a ranch near Jordan, Montana, departed Havre, Montana, about 30 minutes prior to the accident, and was being operated in an area where ceilings were approximately 100 feet and visibility was reported to be less than one mile. No flight plan had been filed, and only two brief ELT transmissions were reported. According to local authorities, the pilot, who was campaigning for a seat on the State Public Service Commission, had arrived in Havre on the previous day in order to attend the Hill County Democratic Women's Annual Dinner. After spending the night in Havre, he was driven to the airport by a friend on the morning of the accident, arriving there a little after 0800. After arriving at the airport, he had Havre Flying Service add 25.9 gallons of 100 LL (low-lead) aviation fuel to the aircraft's right wing tank, and then departed for his ranch near Jordan a little after 0830. Witnesses who had interacted with the pilot at the airport prior to his departure said that he did not seem tired and showed no obvious signs of any physical problems. Witnesses also remarked that looking to the southeast it was apparent that there were low ceilings and "bad weather" along his attended route.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain after flying into an area of known adverse weather. Factors include low ceilings, fog, snow showers, drizzle, and trees along his intended route.
More accidents in MT
- Pilatus PC-12/45, Mar 22, 2009
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Browse: Montana · Mooney 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.
