Beech V35 accident near Missoula, Montana, September 21, 1984
On September 21, 1984 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Beech V35, registered N3736Q, was destroyed in an accident near Missoula, Montana (Missoula airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1984 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Missoula, Montana · Missoula
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35 · all V35s on the register
- Registration
- N3736Q · no longer on the register · serial D-8384
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON SEPT 21, 1984, A BEECH 35, N3736Q CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN 16 MILES NE OF MISSOULA, MT WHILE ON A VOR/DME8INSTRUMENT APPROACH. THE PLT REPORTED ICING, TURBULENCE, AND INTERMITTANT VOR-DME RECEPTION. THE LAST REPORTED ALTITUDE BY THE PLT WAS 8500 FT ON A HEADING OF 250.. MISSOULA APPROACH CONTROL INSTRUCTED THE PLT TO ARC SOUTHEAST 16 NM AND TO INTERCEPT THE 152. RADIAL INBOUND TO ABORT FINAL APPROACH FIX. THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROACHING THE ARC FROM THE EAST AND A LEFT TURN WAS REQUIRED. INSTEAD, THE PLT TURNED RIGHT AND PROCEEDED TO THE NW. HIS LAST POSITION REPORT WAS THE 16 NM ARC AT THE 028 RADIAL. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED AT 14 NM ON THE 013. RADIAL OF THE MISSOULA VORTAC.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RAP Rapid City SD
- Destination: MSO Missoula MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,100 ft; scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from MSO, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.