# NTSB WPR25LA221: Beech B35, N5204C, Helena, MT, July 24, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 23, 2025, 21:45 local (Jul 24, 2025, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Helena, MT - Coordinates: 46.601451, -111.98055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6015&lon=-111.9805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 200625 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200625/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200625 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA221 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly configure the airplane during a go-around which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech B35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech B35, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was returning to his home airport and approached the airport from the north. He was initially cleared to land runway 27 but requested to land runway 17 because he was conveniently aligned with it. When about five miles from the airport he slowed the airplane, lowered the landing gear, and “pulled the throttle all the way back.” He stated that he did not recall “raising the propeller speed.” He further stated that he was too high, and extended the flaps to full down, which was something he normally did not do. During the landing flare, he waited for the airplane to settle onto the runway. He realized that the airplane had not touched down as it passed the midpoint of the 2,989 ft long runway and initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the pilot initially thought he had pushed the throttle control full forward, but when “nothing happened,” he looked down and realized he had pushed the mixture control forward. He added throttle and felt the airplane pick up speed. The pilot recalled that he pulled the yoke back to clear the airport perimeter fence and felt the airplane climb. The pilot stated that he had a positive rate of climb and thought he was high enough to begin a left turn and considered raising the flaps and contacting the tower when the airplane impacted the ground and slid into a building. A security video captured the airplane in a wings level attitude beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane appeared to reach a height of about 20 ft above ground level before the left wing dropped and the airplane descended. Subsequently, it impacted a road and slid into a building, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. Postaccident pictures of the airplane showed that the landing gear was extended and the flaps were retracted. The throttle control was pulled out about ½-inch, and the mixture control was about 1 ½-inch from full forward. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5204C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5204C), registered now, S/N D-2549, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH B35 - Registry model: [Beech B35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b35) (registry code 1151506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-2549 - Year built: 1950 - Airframe hours: 12160 - Engines: Continental E225-8 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Peace Sign LLC - Registered owner: Peace Sign LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2025, 16 hours before - Departed: GTF, Great Falls, MT - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: HLN, Helena Rgnl, runway 17/35, 2,989 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review October 1, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 692 total, 88 in this make and model, 610 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 71 °F, dew point 35 °F - Altimeter: 26.09 inHg - Observed at: HLN, 0.5 nm away - METAR: 9:53 PM 71 °F 35 °F 27 % W 8 mph 0 mph 26.09 in 0.0 in Fair ## 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 20250723008649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250723008649A), Jul 23, 2025: Beech B35, Helena, MT, Substantial damage. On July 24, 2025 at 2150 MDT, a privately owned Beech, B-35, with one pilot and one passenger on board, landed off airport and struck a building, at Helena… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200625. 24.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19129584&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA records of conversation with pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 268 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19128940&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Records%20of%20Conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - POH extract (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 333 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19188998&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Bonanza-V35-V35A-V35B_POH%20Extract-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19133063&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20WPR25LA221-Rel.pdf - Security video (item 5, MP4, 17.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19130103&FileExtension=MP4&FileName=4006484537153344271-Rel.MP4 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.