Maule M-4-220C accident near Hungry Horse, Montana, April 1, 2009
On April 1, 2009 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Maule M-4-220C, registered N2007U, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Hungry Horse, Montana (Glacier Park International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to continue flight into an area of reduced visibility and snow showers during cruise flight, which resulted in the pilot's spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2009 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hungry Horse, Montana · Glacier Park International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-220C · all M-4-220Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2007U · registry record · serial 2008C
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot departed for a short local flight while visual meteorological conditions existed in the immediate vicinity of the departure airport. He proceeded to climb to the northeast, through a mountain pass, and then to the south, paralleling the shore of a frozen, snow-covered reservoir. The flight continued for about 20 miles. Analysis of radar and recorded GPS data showed that the airplane then experienced large fluctuations in ground speed while still on the same approximate track. Shortly thereafter, the airplane began a 180-degree left turn and collided with the reservoir surface. GPS data, airplane instrumentation, and ground scars indicated that the airplane was in a descending left turn when it struck the ground. All major sections of airplane were accounted for at the accident site, and post accident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no obvious anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Mountain obscuration and occasional precipitation were forecast for the area of the accident flight. Additionally, weather observation stations and local pilot reports indicated that moderate snow showers were in the vicinity of the site at the time of the accident. The white surface of the frozen lake, in conjunction with the snow and limited visibility, would have provided the pilot limited external visual references, and as such could have resulted in him becoming spatially disoriented or affected by a visual illusion. The pilot's logbooks revealed that he had a history of flying in marginal weather conditions, and had performed multiple Special VFR takeoffs and landings. The pilot did not possess 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
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute defining event
- Loss of control in flight during enroute
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Spatial disorientation › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total instrument experience › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Snow › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 609 hours in all; 496 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 559 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 12, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 2008; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GPI Kalispell MT at 11:02 pm
- Destination: GPI Kalispell MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 9,007 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from GPI, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N2007U 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.