# NTSB DEN86LA050: Beech V-35B, N24198, Wibaux, MT, December 18, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 18, 1985, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Wibaux, MT
- Coordinates: 47.010646, -104.320404 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0106&lon=-104.3204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16903
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16903/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA050

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - ice/frost removal from aircraft - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - terrain condition - snow covered

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT LIGHT SNOW WAS FALLING AT THE ARPT AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE. THE PAX STATED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT THE PLT ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS AT THEIR CRUISE ALT OF ABOUT 6000 FT. HE CONTINUED TO STATE THAT THE ACFT MADE A SHALLOW DESCENT AT FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE CLOUDS BUT BECAME VERY STEEP SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE DESCENT. THE ACFT BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND IMPACTED THE SNOW COVERED FIELD AT A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT AND AIRSPEED. THE PLT DID NOT PERFORM A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE ACFT, HE DID NOT DEICE THE ACFT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND HE DOES NOT HOLD AN INSTRUMENT RATING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24198](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24198-2012-08-10), registration cancelled 2012-08-10, S/N D-10112, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V-35B
- 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: D10112
- Airframe hours: 1465
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: William Hart
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 1985, 187 hours before
- Departed: 2OU, BEECH, ND
- Destination: B1L, BILLINGS, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,968 total, 1,512 in this make and model, 1,906 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 330° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19851218062949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851218062949A), Dec 18, 1985: Beech V35B, Wibaux, MT, Destroyed. Turned back to departure airport because of weather. Lost control in turn, impacted ground at a high rate of speed.

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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