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SPITFIRE/TP298
Supermarine Spitfire
Serial #: TP298
Construction #:
  6S/676390
Civil Registration:
  N41702
   Model:
  Spitfire FR Mk. XVIIIe
Name: None
Status: Crashed
Last info: 1994
History:
Delivered to Royal Air Force as TP298, 19??.
Delivered to Indian AF as HS662, December 31, 1947.
Ormond & Wensley Haydon-Baille, Duxford, UK, 1977.
- Recovered hulk from Kalaikunda AB.
Marshall Moss/Richard A. Boolootian, Lancaster, CA, 1978-1981.
- Stored, crated, Lancaster-Fox Field, CA, 1979-1980.
David C. Tallichet/MARC, Chino, CA, circa 1981-1994.
- Rebuilt at Tulsa, OK/Casper, WY/Colchester, UK.
- Registered as N41702, July 1, 1991.
- Flew as RAF/TP298/T-UM.
John Briest, Denver, CO, January 19, 1994.
- Crashed and destroyed after striking mountain near Geyser, MT, May 19, 1994.
NTSB Identification: SEA94LA122.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, May 19, 1994 in GREAT FALLS, MT
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/7/94
Aircraft: VICKERS SPITFIRE MARK XVIII, registration: N41702
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

WHILE MANEUVERING IN AN AREA WHERE THE CLOUDS HAD LOWERED TO SOME OF THE RIDGES, THE PILOT OF THE SPITFIRE BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE ACCOMPANYING AIRCRAFT. AT THE POINT OF SEPARATION, THE PILOT OF THE ACCOMPANYING AIRCRAFT EXECUTED A CLIMB THROUGH INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), TO VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) ABOVE. AFTER DISCUSSING THEIR REJOIN OPTIONS, THE SPITFIRE PILOT ELECTED TO ATTEMPT AN IMC CLIMB TO REJOIN THE OTHER AIRCRAFT ABOVE THE CLOUDS. DURING HIS CLIMB IN THE WORLD WAR II VINTAGE FIGHTER, WHICH WAS NOT CERTIFICATED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) OPERATION, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND DESCENDED INTO THE TERRAIN.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHILE IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION TO ATTEMPT AN IMC CLIMB IN AN AIRCRAFT NOT CERTIFIED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) OPERATION, AND HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT'S IMC CAPABILITIES. OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE LOW CLOUDS ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT.

Source(s):
Chapman, John & Goodall, Geoff, Edited by Paul Coggan - Warbirds Directory,Warbirds Worldwide Ltd., Mansfield, England, 1989.
Goodall, Geoff - Warbirds Directory-4th Edition, 2003.
National Transportation & Saftery Board (NTSB), 2003.
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