Beech 58P accident near Kalispell, Montana, December 9, 2013
On December 9, 2013 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1980 Beech 58P, registered N53MT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Kalispell, Montana (Glacier Park Intl Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the landing sequence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 2013 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kalispell, Montana · Glacier Park Intl Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58P, built 1980 · all 58Ps on the register
- Registration
- N53MT · registry record · serial TJ246
- 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 just prior to landing he noted there was ice on the airplane's wings. He activated the de-ice boots and proceeded to land. During the landing flare, about 12 feet above the ground, the airplane buffeted and the nose lowered. The pilot added full power to initiate a go-around when the airplane stalled and the left wing impacted the ground. The pilot reduced power; the airplane touched down onto the runway and skidded off the left side of the runway before it came to a rest. During the accident sequence the airplane's left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to structural icing › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,600 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 3,300 as pilot in command; 630 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 26, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 833 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 27, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,383 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 2013; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,199 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 832 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 832 hours total
- Operator: Kszt LLC
The flight
- Departed from: COE Coeur D'Alene ID at 3:15 pm
- Destination: GPI Kalispell MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 2, 9,007 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 7°F (-14°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from GPI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on April 21, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.