# Incident 19970305017999I: Beech 99, Billings, MT, March 5, 1997

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 5, 1997, 18:00 local time
- Place: Billings, MT
- Airport: Billings Logan International
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: TIMA
- Location: 45.8078° N, 108.5435° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BILLINGS LOGAN INTL (BIL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8078&lon=-108.5435&mi=10
- Aircraft: N24BH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24BH-2026-06-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech 99 (registry code 1154002, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-99) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 99
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970305017999I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: ALPINE FLIGHT 5001, A BE-99 CARGO FLIGHT, DEPARTED HLN FOR BIL ON 03-05-97. WHILE ENROUTE, THE FORWARD BAGGAGE POD DOOR OPENED ALLOWING SOME U.S. MAIL TO FALL OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE DOOR WAS OK AND THE LATCHES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. SUSPECT THE DOOR WAS NOT PROPERLY LATCHED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.

## Other reports on N24BH (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20060612019569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060612019569I), Jun 12, 2006: Beech 99 (N24BH), Kaunakakai, HI, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot reported gear collapsed on landing. Aircraft skidded off right side of runway.
- [Incident 19870302017879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870302017879I), Mar 2, 1987: Beech 99 (N24BH), Portland, ME. After liftoff, flaps extended fully and could not be retracted. Returned for landing. Cause undetermined.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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