Beech 35 accident near Laurel, Montana, February 22, 1996
On February 22, 1996 at about 2:00 am local time, a Beech 35, registered N3363V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laurel, Montana (Laurel Muni airport). 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear. Factors related to the accident were: an inoperative gear warning system, the dark night, and the pilot's failure to follow the checklist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1996 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Laurel, Montana · Laurel Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3363V · no longer on the register · serial D-829
- 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 after he entered the pattern for landing, he began the 'GUMP' preparations while making announcements of his position. The flight was conducted after dark, and the pilot stated that he did not visually check to make sure that the landing gear was extended because there was no light that showed the mechanical position of the landing gear. The pilot also stated that the red landing gear panel light was out and the warning horn did not sound. The airplane touched down with the landing gear retracted.
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: 500 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1995; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6S3 Columbus MT at 1:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,775 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from BIL, 11 miles away
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.