Cessna 180 N4934A

Summary

On 2 January 2019 at about 23:50 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N4934A, operated by Caleb Arnold, was involved in an accident near Townsend, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 January 2019 at 23:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Townsend, Montana, United States

Coordinates

46.2892, -111.5194

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N4934A

Category

Airplane

Year built

1956

Engines

1

Operator

Caleb Arnold

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Townsend → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

WPR19LA055

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at low level, which resulted in a wire strike and subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

There were no witnesses to the accident; however, a witness saw the airplane flying about 10 to 15 feet above the river before it disappeared from view behind the riverbank. The pilot reported that he had no memory of the event and could not recall the accident flight; the passenger stated that, near the end of the flight, “a line wire got in the way.” The airplane came to rest in a snow-covered field about 1/4 mile from power transmission lines that had been broken, and the vertical stabilizer displayed damage consistent with a wire strike. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s decision to operate at low level, and his failure to maintain clearance from power lines. Astronomical data revealed that the accident occurred about 1 minute before sunset, which may have contributed to the pilot’s failure to see and avoid the power lines.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.