Cessna A185F accident near Fort Peck, Montana, September 20, 1984
On September 20, 1984 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered CGZWQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Peck, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 1984 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Peck, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- CGZWQ · no longer on the register · serial 185-03506
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A CALM PART OF RESERVOIR. THE WAVE HEIGHTS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE 4 TO 6 FEET. THE ARFT STRUCK SEVERAL WAVES DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN. THE RT WING TIP DRAGGED IN THE WATER CAUSING THE ACFT TO NOSE OVER. THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED, PARTIALLY SUBMERGED. THE PLT PULLED HIS SON AND DAUGHTER FROM THE ACFT BEFORE HE DROWNED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 786 hours in all; 786 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,131 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 1984; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,320 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MSO Missoula MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from GGW, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.