# NTSB DEN86FA039: Beech 35-B33, N5637K, Columbia Falls, MT, December 6, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 5, 1985, 21:30 local (Dec 6, 1985, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Columbia Falls, MT
- Coordinates: 48.409721, -114.149017 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4097&lon=-114.1490&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16798
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16798/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA039

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue(ground schedule), pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5637K-1988-04-07), registration cancelled 1988-04-07, S/N CD753 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 35-B33
- Registry model: [Beech 35-B33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-b33) (registry code 1151406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CD-753
- Airframe hours: 2915
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19851205064089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851205064089A), Dec 5, 1985: Beech STC33, Columbia Falls, MT, Destroyed. Took off into a low ceiling and visibility at night. Lost control. Aircraft impacted the ground.

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.

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