Cessna 180F accident near Townsend, MT
On March 17, 2009, a Cessna 180F (airplane) was involved in an accident near Townsend, MT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 17, 2009
- Place
- Townsend, MT
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180F · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 46.419°N, 111.577°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090319X35429
Official records · WPR09FA154
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 17, 2009, about 1445 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180F airplane, N2698Y, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Townsend, Montana. The airplane was registered to Mountain Flying, LLC of Helena, Montana and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Gallatin Field Airport, Bozeman, Montana, about 1411 with an intended destination of Helena, Montana. Family members of the pilot contacted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the evening of March 17, 2009, after becoming concerned when the pilot had not arrived at his intended destination. The FAA subsequently issued an Alert Notification. The Montana Aeronautics Division and United States Air Force, and the United States Customs and Border Protection commenced search and rescue operations throughout the area of the pilot's intended flight path. The wreckage was located by aerial units on the morning of March 19, 2009. A witness located about 2 miles northeast of the accident site reported that on March 17, while watching two people trespass on private property, he observed a high wing airplane similar to the accident airplane flying on a northerly heading, west of a set of power lines that were adjacent to a main railroad crossing. The witness stated that the tops of t
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees and terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude.
More accidents in MT
- Pilatus PC-12/45, Mar 22, 2009
- Beech D18S, Jul 5, 1987
- Cessna 550, Dec 18, 1992
- Beech V35B, Jun 24, 1982
- Cessna 182C, May 12, 2007
Browse: Montana · Cessna 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.
