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| Date: | Tuesday 20 June 2000 |
| Time: | 20:30 |
| Type: | Kolb Twinstar Mark-III |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N618HP |
| MSN: | 1143 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 47 hours |
| Engine model: | Bombardier ROTAX 618 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Bigfork, MT -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Whitefish, MT (58S) |
| Ferndale, MT (53U) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Witnesses reported observing the aircraft perform various low level flight maneuvers in the area. A witness reported that the aircraft was performing steep turns, and steep climbs and descents prior to the final maneuver. The witness reported that the aircraft began a steep climb from about 300-400 feet above ground level for a few seconds, then nosed down and collided with the terrain in a near vertical attitude. Post-accident inspection of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Inadequate altitude for recovery was a factor.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001212X21339&key=1
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency, ] |
| 12-Dec-2017 18:48 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Source, Narrative, ] |
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