Beech C35 accident near Ekalaka, Montana, October 21, 1987
On October 21, 1987 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Beech C35, registered N2028D, was destroyed in an accident near Ekalaka, Montana (Ekalaka airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- October 21, 1987 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ekalaka, Montana · Ekalaka · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N2028D · no longer on the register · serial 3379
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED AN UNEXPECTED TAILWIND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TRIED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF BUT TALL GRASS AND THE TAILWIND DID NOT ALLOW THE AIRCRAFT TO DECELERATE PROPERLY. THE AIRCRAFT RAN THROUGH TWO DRAINAGE DITCHES AND STRUCK THE RIDGE OF A THIRD. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A FIELD.
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
- Flight time: 168 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 116 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: UES Waukesha WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12, 2,950 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.