Cessna 206F accident near Opheim, Montana, October 27, 1989
On October 27, 1989 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 206F, registered N33211, was substantially damaged in an accident near Opheim, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE WHILE EXECUTING A LOW PASS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1989 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Opheim, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206F · all 206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N33211 · no longer on the register · serial U2060271
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE AND THE PAX WERE EN ROUTE TO OPEIM, MT, WHEN HE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE. HE EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION. SEVERAL 'SPENT' RIFLE CARTRIDGES WERE FOUND IN THE AIRPLANE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE FLAPS WERE IN THE UP POSITION AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE IMPACT MARKS REVEALED THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, STRUCK A RAVINE, BECAME AIRBORNE AND IMPACTED THE UPHILL SIDE OF THE RAVINE BEFORE NOSING OVER.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,807 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 1989; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GGW Glascow MT at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 500 Opheim MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.