Beech V35A-TC accident near Pembina, North Dakota, January 29, 1995
On January 29, 1995 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Beech V35A-TC, registered N68DC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pembina, North Dakota (Pembina Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's misjudgement of the actual altitude of the airplane. Factors were the visual illusion caused by the snow covered runway environment and the whiteout weather condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 1995 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pembina, North Dakota · Pembina Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35A-TC · all V35A-TCs on the register
- Registration
- N68DC · no longer on the register · serial D9883
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THERE WAS LIGHT BLOWING SNOW AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT AND RUNWAY WERE COVERED WITH ONE TO TWO INCHES OF NEW SNOW. HE CANCELLED IFR ABOUT 15 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION AND CONTINUED UNDER VFR. HE SAID HE INTENDED TO MAKE A LOW PASS TO OBSERVE THE CONDITION OF THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY. HE LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR AND FULL FLAPS, TURNED ON TO THE RUNWAY HEADING, AND OBSERVED THE ALTIMETER INDICATION AT 820 FEET. BEFORE HE REALIZED IT, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN SHORT OF RUNWAY 33.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,121 hours in all; 3,621 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 4,121 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,641 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 7, 1994; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MVE Montevideo MN at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from O3Y, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.