Piper PA-34-220T accident near Lincoln, MT
On May 30, 2010, a Piper PA-34-220T (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lincoln, MT. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 30, 2010
- Place
- Lincoln, MT
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 47.009°N, 112.819°W
- NTSB ID
- 20100601X32457
Official records · WPR10FA273
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 30, 2010, about 0830 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-34-220T Seneca airplane, N44MC, sustained substantial damage following an in-flight collision with trees and mountainous terrain approximately 7 miles west of Lincoln, Montana. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to R&D Aviation, Inc, of Huntington Woods, Michigan, and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity at the time of the accident. A VFR flight plan was filed but not activated for the flight that originated from Helena, Montana at 0812. The pilot’s planned destination was Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada (CYXC). The airplane was one of a flight of twelve participating in a guided air tour. The multiple day tour originated at Helena on May 30, with a planned final destination of Friday Harbor, Washington. The tour itinerary included multiple overnight stops throughout Canada and Alaska before a planned arrival at Friday Harbor on June 13. The tour group planned to depart Helena on May 29, but was delayed by one day due to poor weather conditions. The accident airplane departed Helena at 0812. Approximately 20 minutes later the pilot of the accident airplane reported (to the tour organizer who was piloting the lead aircraft) that he was "5 miles to Seeley Lake at 8,500 feet." Shortly thereafter, the accident pilot reported that he was "encountering clouds at 8,500 feet and
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to continue flight into an area of low ceilings and low visibility and his failure to maintain sufficient clearance from mountainous terrain.
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 · 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.
