Beech 35 accident near Harrison, Idaho, May 20, 1991
On May 20, 1991 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N3842N, was destroyed in an accident near Harrison, Idaho (Private Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT. THE TERRAIN CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1991 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Harrison, Idaho · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3842N · no longer on the register · serial D-1079
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP, THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OVER RISING/WOODED TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND CRASHED. THE RUNWAY SLOPED UPWARD TOWARD THE RISING TERRAIN; A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER DESCENDING TERRAIN AND A LAKE. ELEVATION OF THE AIRPORT WAS ABOUT 2700 FT; ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE (NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY) WAS ABOUT 3000 FT. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 215 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 154 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,781 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1991; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.