Cessna 182C accident near Circle, MT
On April 6, 2013, a Cessna 182C (airplane) was involved in an accident near Circle, MT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 6, 2013
- Place
- Circle, MT
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.739°N, 105.928°W
- NTSB ID
- 20130407X01535
Official records · WPR13FA183
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 6, 2013, about 1045 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Cessna 182C, N8721T, collided with terrain 27 miles northwest of Circle, Montana. The private pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to Prarie Sky Inc, and was operated by the private pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, personal flight. The airplane departed from a ranch airstrip located approximately 10 miles east of Lustre, Montana, about 1030, in visual meteorological conditions, and was destined for a private airstrip in Acton, Montana. The pilot told his wife over the phone before he took off that it was a foggy morning but the fog was lifting, visibility had increased to 5 miles, and the weather was supposed to get better in the south. The pilot departed the private ranch air strip about 1030. At 1045, while near Wolf Point, Montanan, he made an airborne mobile phone call to his wife. Just before the mobile connection was dropped he told her that there was fog "just over the river" but it was clear on the other side. At 1430, concerned family members reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the airplane had never arrived at its intended destination of Acton, Montana. About 1830, the wreckage was located 27 miles northwest of Circle. There were no witnesses to the accident, and no reports of a distress call. Initial examination of the airplane wreckage revealed damage and ground scars consistent with a high energy vertical impact. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 38, held a private pilot certificate for air
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control as a result of spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue flight into low visibility conditions.
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.
