- Date
- December 5, 1985, 21:30 local (Dec 6, 1985, 04:30 UTC)
- Place
- Columbia Falls, MT
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5637KBeech 35-B33
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19851205064089A
- Case key
- 16798
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft contacted snow covered terrain in an uncontrolled descent aprx 3 minutes after takeoff. The plt obtained a wx briefing from kalispell, MT, NWS and updated briefings from missoula and great Falls, MT, fss, for proposed night VFR flt to ogden, UT. VFR flt was not recommended. Kalispell wx was sky partially obscured, measured ceiling 100 ft overcast, visibility 2 miles with fog. The plt asked for a special VFR clearance to ogden. The controller asked if he wanted 'flight following all the way.' The plt answered affirmatively. The plt was never given a special VFR clearance. Radar shows the acft taking off at about 2128 MST. Last contact was at 2130 MST. The plt was not instrument rated.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5637K
- Reported as
- Beech 35-B33
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- CD-753
- Airframe hours
- 2,915
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-K, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Curtis L. & Janice A. Baldwin
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 10, 1985 · 239 hours before
- Destination
- OGD · Ogden, UT
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- FCA · Glacier Park Intl, runway 1, 8,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 465 total · 450 in this make and model · 377 as pilot in command · 105 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Lowest ceiling
- 100 ft
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.