# NTSB CHI95LA076: Beech V35A-TC, N68DC, Pembina, ND, January 29, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 29, 1995, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Pembina, ND - Coordinates: 48.960521, -97.239959 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.9605&lon=-97.2400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9828 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9828/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA076 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudgement of the actual altitude of the airplane. Factors were the visual illusion caused by the snow covered runway environment and the whiteout weather condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - visual illusion, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THERE WAS LIGHT BLOWING SNOW AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT AND RUNWAY WERE COVERED WITH ONE TO TWO INCHES OF NEW SNOW. HE CANCELLED IFR ABOUT 15 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION AND CONTINUED UNDER VFR. HE SAID HE INTENDED TO MAKE A LOW PASS TO OBSERVE THE CONDITION OF THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY. HE LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR AND FULL FLAPS, TURNED ON TO THE RUNWAY HEADING, AND OBSERVED THE ALTIMETER INDICATION AT 820 FEET. BEFORE HE REALIZED IT, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN SHORT OF RUNWAY 33. ## Factual narrative On January 29, 1995, at 0830 central standard time, a Beech V35A- TC airplane, N68DC, operated by Milwel Inc. of Montevideo, Minnesota, sustained substantial damage when it was landed short of the runway in Pembina, North Dakota. The private pilot reported no injuries. The personal flight originated at 0645 in Montevideo, Minnesota, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he cancelled IFR about 15 miles from his destination and continued under VFR. He said he intended to make a low pass to observe the condition of the snow covered runway. He lowered the landing gear and full flaps, turned on to the runway heading, and observed the altimeter indication at 820 feet. Before he realized it, the airplane impacted the terrain short of runway 33. The airplane struck the ground in one and one half to two feet of hard packed snow. The nose and left main landing gear collapsed as the airplane rotated to a heading of about 070 degrees and came to rest, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there was light blowing snow at the time of the accident. The airport environment and runway were covered with one to two inches of new snow. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68DC-2021-06-24), registration cancelled 2021-06-24, S/N D-9883, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH V35A-TC - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D9883 - Airframe hours: 1641 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Milwel Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 7, 1994, 40 hours before - Departed: MVE, MONTEVIDEO, MN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PMB, Pembina Municipal Airport, runway 33, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,121 total, 3,621 in this make and model, 4,121 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 9 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: O3Y, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950129004979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950129004979A), Jan 29, 1995: Beech V35B, Pembina, ND, Substantial damage. Intended low pass to check runway. Gear down. Full flaps. Impacted snow short of runway. (-23) the private pilot of this BE-V35A-TC entered the traffic pattern… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.