# NTSB SEA92FA140: Beech A36TC, N3696R, Ballantine, MT, June 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 29, 1992, 08:35 local (14:35 UTC)
- Place: Ballantine, MT
- Coordinates: 45.890861, -108.089859 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8909&lon=-108.0899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92FA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41584/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92FA140

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT AND HIS CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE HILLY TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING A VFR FLT, AND REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE TO ENTER THE CONTROL ZONE AND LAND AT THE DESTINATION. RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WITH THE FLT WAS LOST AT 4000 FT MSL IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE ACFT IMPACTED UPSLOPING TERRAIN THAT WAS OBSCURED IN CLOUDS, NEAR THE TOP OF A HILL AT 4000 FT MSL. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS INDICATED THAT 57.7 UG/ML OF A PRESCRIBED MEDICATION, QUINIDINE, WAS DETECTED IN THE BLOOD; NORMAL THERAPEUTIC CONCENTRATION RANGE IN PLASMA IS 2.0 T0 6.0 UG/ML.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3696R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3696R-2013-07-18), registration cancelled 2013-07-18, S/N EA-138, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC
- Registry model: [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (registry code 1151603) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: EA-138
- Airframe hours: 2278
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-UB 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Huntley, Gene
- Registered owner: Huntley, Gene
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 1991, 67 hours before
- Departed: 3U6, BAKER, MT
- Destination: BIL, BILLINGS, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,059 total, 211 in this make and model, 942 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BIL, 15 nm away

## 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 19920629022189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920629022189A), Jun 29, 1992: Beech A36TC, Ballantine, MT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into cloud obscured hill approaching billings. Possible impairment due to medication.

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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