# NTSB SEA74AS044: Beech 35, N2962V, Townsend, MT, May 14, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 14, 1974
- Place: Townsend, MT · TOWNSEND, MT
- Location: 46.3192° N, 111.5196° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Townsend, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3192&lon=-111.5196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125953
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA74AS044
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74AS044

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2430  74/5/14    TOWNSEND,MONT       BEECH 35            CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 38, 85 TOTAL
        TIME - 1620                    N2962V              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HELENA,MONT                 BILLINGS,MONT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    4500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      49
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          290                                                       17
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- WX BRIEF BY HELENA COMBINED STA/TWR.SHWRS OVR MTNS E OF HELENA,PEAKS OBSCRD.DISINTEGRATION INFLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2962V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2962V-1975-01-29), registration cancelled 1975-01-29, S/N D-357 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 35
- Registry model: [Beech 35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35) (registry code 1151502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19740514023019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740514023019A), May 14, 1974: Beech 35BEECH, Townsend, MT, Destroyed. Wx brief by helena combined sta/twr. Shwrs ovr mtns e of helena,peaks obscrd. Disintegration inflt.

## Other investigations on N2962V (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA66F0271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66F0271), Sep 25, 1965: Beechcraft 35 (N2962V), Pine Mountain, GA, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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