Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mira... crash, Apr 11, 1998 (2 killed)
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class) accident on April 11, 1998 near Bigfork, Montana, United States with 2 fatalities. Cause: Pilot's...
- Date: April 11, 1998
- Aircraft: Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
- Location: Bigfork, Montana, United States
- Fatalities: 2
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were mountainous terrain, trees, dark night conditions, clouds and pilot fatigue.
A Piper PA-46 Malibu Mirage on a night flight from Bismarck to Kalispell vanished from radar after being cleared to descend toward Kalispell in cloud and mountainous terrain. The aircraft struck a steep mountain slope near Bigfork, Montana, and the wreckage was not located for about two months. The investigation found no mechanical failure and pointed to the pilot's loss of terrain clearance with fatigue as a factor.