- Date
- October 21, 1987, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Ekalaka, MT
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2028DBeech C35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 24, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19871021061339A
- Case key
- 17408
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
During the takeoff roll the pilot encountered an unexpected tailwind. The pilot reported that he tried to abort the takeoff but tall grass and the tailwind did not allow the aircraft to decelerate properly. The aircraft ran through two drainage ditches and struck the ridge of a third. The aircraft came to rest in a field.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2028D
- Reported as
- Beech C35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3379
- Engine
- Continental E-225-8, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Strode, Donald L.
- Registered owner
- Donald R. Strode
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 27, 1987
- Destination
- UES · Waukesha, WI
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 5U2 · Ekalaka, runway 12, 2,950 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 168 total · 52 in this make and model · 116 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.