Beechcraft V35B N18307

Summary

On 12 August 1991 at about 00:10 local time, a Beechcraft V35B registered N18307, operated by Mm&O Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Belgrade, Montana, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 August 1991 at 00:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Belgrade, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Gallatin Field (BZN)

Coordinates

45.8105, -111.1501

Aircraft

Beechcraft V35B

Registration

N18307

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Mm&O Aviation, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Denver

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA91LA206

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB DURING THE TAKEOFF. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE OPEN CABIN WINDOW AND THE PILOT'S DIVERTING HIS ATTENTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING GEAR RETRACTION ON TAKEOFF THE RIGHT CENTER CABIN WINDOW OPENED. THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED BY THE AMBIENT NOISE AND ITS EFFECT ON HIS DAUGHTER WHO WAS SEATED ADJACENT TO THE WINDOW. THE PILOT THEN TURNED HIS ATTENTION TO SECURING THE WINDOW AND DURING THIS EVENT FAILED TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE CLIMB RATE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.