Beech E35 accident near Kalispell, Montana, July 24, 1989
On July 24, 1989 at about 11:25 pm local time, a Beech E35, registered N3317C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kalispell, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CONTAMINATED FUEL SYSTEM THAT STARVED THE ENGINE OF FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1989 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Kalispell, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E35 · all E35s on the register
- Registration
- N3317C · no longer on the register · serial D3983
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE KALISPELL AIRPORT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE EXECUTED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, BUT COULD NOT RESTORE POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED. A POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED DIRT AND SAND CONTAMINANTES IN THE FUEL TANKS AND THAT THE FUEL FILTER SCREENS WERE OBSTRUCTED WITH FOREIGN MATTER.
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: 6,184 hours in all; 234 in this make and model; 4,588 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,081 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 1988; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,925 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FCA at 11:20 pm
- Destination: DKY Deer Park WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.