Swearingen SA-227-AC accident near Missoula, Montana, December 2, 1991
On December 2, 1991 at about 1:55 am local time, a Swearingen SA-227-AC, registered N26932, was substantially damaged in an accident near Missoula, Montana (Johnson-Bell airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 18 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. FACTORS INCLUDE A DRAGGING BRAKE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1991 · about 1:55 am local time
- Place
- Missoula, Montana · Johnson-Bell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 18 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Swearingen SA-227-AC · all SA-227-ACs on the register
- Registration
- N26932 · no longer on the register · serial AC660
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AS THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY, WHICH HAD AN ACCUMULATION OF SNOW. THE INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AT HIGH SPEED WAS CONSISTENT WITH AA DRAGGING BRAKE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,800 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 174 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command; 790 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,645 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 22, 1991; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 14,200 lb
- Seats: 21
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE 331-11U (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Horizon Air
The flight
- Destination: GEG Spokane WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29, 9,499 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 800 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 16 |
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.