Lewistown - Reno

On May 9, 1985 at 08:44 AM, Lewistown - Reno experienced a crash involving Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina, operated by Diversified Drilling Muds, with the event recorded near Lewistown Montana.

The flight was categorized as survey / patrol / reconnaissance and the reported phase was taxiing at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 33.3%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. During taxi to takeoff the brakes failed. The pilot attempted to ground loop the aircraft. The aircraft rolled down a hill and collided with a gully. The pilot was fatally injured. During preflight the copilot inadvertently added hydraulic fluid in the alcohol tank. The hydraulic pump cavitated. The pilot failed to use the hydraulic emergency hand pump or the a.c. Electric pump.

Aircraft reference details include registration N84857, MSN 1522, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 47.0639°, -109.4282°.