Lockheed P-3A accident near Florence, Montana, October 17, 1991
On October 17, 1991 at about 1:45 am local time, a Lockheed P-3A, registered N924AU, was destroyed in an accident near Florence, Montana. It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. 2 people were killed. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 1991 · about 1:45 am local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Florence, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Lockheed P-3A · all P-3As on the register
- Registration
- N924AU · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
- Operator: Aero Union Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA
- Destination: MSO Missoula MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from MSO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N924AU: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Lockheed P-3 17 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Lockheed 197 aircraft on the register
- Santa Barbara Municipal · departed from
- Missoula Montana Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Montana 1,121 since 1982 · 166 in the last ten years
- Montana 6,049 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA92T%23A01.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.