Beech 76 accident near Sula, Montana, August 15, 1985
On August 15, 1985 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Beech 76, registered N3865U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sula, Montana. 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 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
- August 15, 1985 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sula, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 76 · all 76s on the register
- Registration
- N3865U · no longer on the register · serial ME-406
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED THAT HE OVERFLEW AIRSTRIP TO 'MAKE SURE IT WAS CLEAR.' DURING THE LANDING ROLL, HE SAW SHRUBBERY ON THE RWY AND ATTEMPTED EVASIVE ACTION. THE ACFT VEERED LEFT AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ROLLED INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A FENCE POST.
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
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command; 551 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1G6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSO Missoula MT at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 211° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from MSO, 63 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.