Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Saint Mary, Montana, September 5, 1985
On September 5, 1985 at about 4:06 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered CGTGV, was destroyed in an accident near Saint Mary, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 5, 1985 · about 4:06 pm local time
- Place
- Saint Mary, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- CGTGV · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7931176
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT RECEIVED WX UPDATE ENROUTE TO KALISPELL, MT. HE ATTEMPTED TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, FOLLOWING THE 'GOING-TO-THE-SUN' HIGHWAY. THE WX ALONG THE PLT'S ROUTE OF FLT INCLUDED LOW CLOUD CEILING, LIMITED VISIBILITY AND MOUNTAIN OBSCUREMENT. THE PLT FLEW INTO A BOX CANYON AND COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES BEFORE GROUND IMPACT. THE PLT HELD A CANADIAN AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATE WITH AN INSTRUMENT RATING.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 3,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 2, 1985; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YYCY Calgary OF at 2:43 pm
- Destination: FCA Kalispell MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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.