What Went Wrong?

Monday, June 20, 2022 at 06:33 PM ET

Verified

The sectional chart excerpt at left depicts the three routes relevant to this flight’s outcome. In black is the direct route between Billings and Powell. Orange depicts the original plan. The pink route is the one estimated to have actually been flown, until the airplane collided with terrain about two-thirds of the way toward the destination.

Key Takeaways:

A pilot experienced a VFR-into-IMC and controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accident due to a series of errors, including deviating from his flight plan, incorrectly programming his GPS with a true instead of magnetic course, and a critical loss of situational awareness.
Despite the severe crash and overnight exposure in deep snow, the pilot survived largely by applying winter survival skills learned weeks prior at a clinic, effectively using an onboard emergency kit.
The incident underscores the importance of strict adherence to flight plans, proper utilization of navigation technology, maintaining vigilant situational awareness, and being adequately prepared with appropriate clothing and survival gear for potential emergencies.

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Every year, the Montana Department of Transportation Aviation Division offers its well-attended and comprehensive Surratt Memorial Winter Survival Clinic. Just about every pilot who has attended raves about the experience, and, thankfully, the majority in attendance will never have to apply the survival skills outlined at the clinic. Little did one pilot know that only weeks after his attendance at the clinic would he be neck-deep in snow, fighting for his life.

It was a crisp, late March evening in Billings, Mont., when the 18-year-old pilot intended to knock out some solo cross-country and night requirements for his commercial pilot certificate. He planned to head south to Powell, Wyo., about 60 nm south-southwest of Billings, and return. The pilot thought he might even be able to squeeze in some night landings once back at Billings.