Piper PA-32-300 N216BC

Summary

On 29 April 2000 at about 16:45 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N216BC was involved in an accident near Fort Smith, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 April 2000 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Smith, Montana, United States

Coordinates

45.4090, -107.8796

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N216BC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Helena → Sheridan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA00FA080

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. Factors include low ceilings, snow, rain, and rising, mountainous/hilly terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft, which departed Helena, Montana, en route to Sheridan, Wyoming, entered an area of rising terrain located just south of Fort Smith, Montana. At the time the aircraft entered the area, there were variable low ceilings, snow, and rain. As the aircraft continued to the south, in an area where the distance between the mountainous/hilly terrain and the cloud base diminished, the aircraft impacted a gently up-sloping grassy ridge.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.