History of Flight
On March 17, 2009, at approximately 1445 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180F airplane, registration N2698Y, was substantially damaged when it struck terrain while maneuvering near Townsend, Montana. The aircraft was registered to Mountain Flying, LLC, and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight, which originated from Gallatin Field Airport in Bozeman at 1411 with an intended destination of Helena.
Family members contacted the Federal Aviation Administration on the evening of March 17 after the pilot failed to arrive. An Alert Notification was issued, and search operations by the Montana Aeronautics Division, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection began. The wreckage was found by aerial units on the morning of March 19.
A witness about 2 miles northeast of the accident site reported seeing a high-wing airplane similar to the accident aircraft flying northbound, with wing tops below power lines, estimated 20 to 30 feet above ground at high speed. The airplane then pitched up and turned left, making a 180-degree turn to a southbound heading. The witness stopped watching to observe trespassers. No other witnesses to the accident sequence were identified.
Pilot Information
The 64-year-old pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument ratings, as well as a flight instructor certificate. A first-class medical certificate was issued March 19, 2008, with the limitation “must wear corrective lenses and possess glasses for near and intermediate vision.” The pilot reported 20,045 total flight hours on his most recent medical application. Personal logbooks were not located.
Aircraft Information
The four-seat, high-wing, fixed-gear tailwheel airplane (serial number 18051198) was manufactured in 1962. It was powered by a Teledyne Continental Motors IO-520-D engine modified to an O-520-F rated at 280 horsepower, with a three-bladed Hartzell constant-speed propeller. The pilot had purchased the airplane on December 30, 2008. An annual inspection was completed on August 1, 2008, at a tachometer reading of 221.3 hours, with airframe total time of 5,221.3 hours and engine time since major overhaul of 221.3 hours. The digital tachometer was intact but not examined.
Meteorological Information
Recorded data from the Helena Regional Airport ASOS at 1453 indicated wind from 260 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 25 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 4,800 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet, temperature 4°C, dew point -7°C, altimeter 30.13 inHg, and a peak wind gust of 28 knots at 1420. At Gallatin Field Airport at 1456, wind was from 100 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 6,000 feet, temperature 6°C, dew point -4°C, altimeter 30.11 inHg. A witness near the accident site reported a storm over the mountains west with visible snow, about 6 to 7 inches of snow on the ground, and wind about 5 to 10 mph.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Debris and broken tree limbs were scattered about 600 feet along an approximate 355-degree magnetic heading from a cluster of scraped and broken trees 15 to 20 feet high in a mountain drainage. A separated section of the inboard left wing and outboard left aileron were lodged in a tree near the initial impact point. A circular impression on the left wing matched a topped tree. The outboard left wing tip and auxiliary fuel tank were 102 feet from the initial tree impact. Ground scars consistent with left and right main landing gear were observed, along with five propeller slash marks.
A crater about 8 to 12 inches deep, 10 feet long, and 4 feet wide was located 148 feet north of the initial tree cluster. Debris including Plexiglas, left wing structure, right main landing gear, and vortex generators extended up a 45-degree slope. The fuselage and empennage were 123 feet upslope of the crater; the propeller came to rest 76 feet north of the main wreckage; the right main landing gear was 253 feet north of the propeller. The fuselage came to rest on a 340-degree heading and was largely consumed by fire. The empennage separated at the baggage compartment and was found inverted. Rudder and elevator control cable continuity was established; the right rudder cable was separated aft of the torque tube attach point, consistent with overload.
The left wing was found upside down and separated from the fuselage. The right wing was under the left, inverted, and mostly consumed by fire. The engine was partially separated; all cylinders remained attached with impact damage. The crankshaft was manually rotated, and continuity was established. Thumb compression and suction were noted on all six cylinders; no anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Broadwater County Coroner on March 20, 2009, determined the cause of death as blunt force injuries. Toxicological tests by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, volatiles, and drugs.