Beech A36TC accident near Ballantine, Montana, June 29, 1992
On June 29, 1992 at about 2:35 pm local time, a Beech A36TC, registered N3696R, was destroyed in an accident near Ballantine, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT AND HIS CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE HILLY TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1992 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- Ballantine, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N3696R · no longer on the register · serial EA-138
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING A VFR FLT, AND REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE TO ENTER THE CONTROL ZONE AND LAND AT THE DESTINATION. RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WITH THE FLT WAS LOST AT 4000 FT MSL IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE ACFT IMPACTED UPSLOPING TERRAIN THAT WAS OBSCURED IN CLOUDS, NEAR THE TOP OF A HILL AT 4000 FT MSL. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS INDICATED THAT 57.7 UG/ML OF A PRESCRIBED MEDICATION, QUINIDINE, WAS DETECTED IN THE BLOOD; NORMAL THERAPEUTIC CONCENTRATION RANGE IN PLASMA IS 2.0 T0 6.0 UG/ML.
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: 1,059 hours in all; 211 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 942 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,278 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 1991; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3U6 Baker MT at 1:40 pm
- Destination: BIL Billings MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; scat at 400 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:40 pm from BIL, 15 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.