Cessna 310R accident near Wolf Point, Montana, May 25, 2000
On May 25, 2000 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Cessna 310R, registered N30RA, was destroyed in an accident near Wolf Point, Montana. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
In flight collision with birds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2000 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wolf Point, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N30RA · no longer on the register · serial 310R-0079
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff from runway 11, about 600 feet above ground level (AGL), the aircraft collided with multiple geese. The pilot stated that he heard 3-4 loud bangs just before the aircraft's windshield shattered. The aircraft subsequently collided with terrain and burned. The pilot was unable to recall any of the detailed events between the time of the bird strikes and the time of the accident.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 696 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 392 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,492 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 2000; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-MB1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Richland Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: OLF Wolf Point MT at 2:45 pm
- Destination: SDY Sidney MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from OLF, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N30RA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.