Beech V35B accident near Northwood, North Dakota, July 31, 1992
On July 31, 1992 at about 8:10 am local time, a Beech V35B, registered N8BL, was destroyed in an accident near Northwood, North Dakota (Miller airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND DURING INITIAL CLIMB.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1992 · about 8:10 am local time
- Place
- Northwood, North Dakota · Miller · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8BL · registry record · serial D-9736
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING INITIAL CLIMB FROM A PRIVATE LANDING STRIP. THE INTENDED DESTINATION WAS THE ANNUAL EAA FLY IN AT OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN. NIGHT VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED. AN AURAL WITNESS HEARD WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A 'REGULAR AIRPLANE ENGINE.' HE STATED IT STARTED RACING AND GOING REAL FAST AND THEN HE HEARD 'LITTLE POPS.' HE SAW THE SKY TURN ORANGE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE TOWN FIRE ALARM SOUNDED. THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS A DENTIST AND WORKED ALL THE PREVIOUS DAY. HE THEN FLEW A FOUR HOUR FLIGHT AND RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT ABOUT 2230. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT OCCURRED ABOUT 0310 THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THE RUNWAY USED WAS 1700 FEET LONG AND 45 FEET WIDE. A MATURE TREE LINE CROSSED THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED ABOUT 360 FEET SOUTHEAST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE FLIGHT PATH WAS OVER UNLIGHTED FARMLAND AND THE MOON WAS BELOW THE HORIZON. NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE AIRPLANE OR POWERPLANT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,162 hours in all; 11 in the last 30 days; 216 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,983 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550B(1) (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Miller Leasing INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 8:10 am
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,700 ft by 45 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 am from RDR, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI92FA220.