Beech K35 accident near Sula, Montana, June 14, 1992
On June 14, 1992 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Beech K35, registered N212M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sula, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION, A WHITE OUT WEATHER CONDITION AND INADEQUATE CLEARANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1992 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sula, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech K35 · all K35s on the register
- Registration
- N212M · registry record · serial D-5874
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE CRUISING VFR THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS AT APPROXIMATELY 1,000 TO 1,200 FEET AGL, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A WHITE OUT CONDITION AND ENTERED IMC. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A CLIMBING LEFT TURN TO REVERSE COURSE; HOWEVER, DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ON THE VALLEY WALL.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 1992; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FCA Kalispell MT at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 20V Kremmling CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.
Other NTSB records under N212M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.