Beech 19A accident near Helena, Montana, July 18, 2016
On July 18, 2016 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 1969 Beech 19A, registered N7645R, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Helena, Montana (Helena airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to reposition the fuel selector valve to the on position prior to takeoff resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to properly complete the pre-takeoff checklist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2016 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Helena, Montana · Helena · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 19A, built 1969 · all 19As on the register
- Registration
- N7645R · no longer on the register · serial MB-436
- 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 during the initial climb after takeoff, about 500 feet, the engine lost power. He made a left turn to return to the airport, but instead touched down hard next to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. This was the first flight following completion of an annual inspection. During the inspection maintenance personnel had placed the fuel selector valve (FSV) in the off position, and did not return it to the full on position before the flight. The pilot reported that he and the owner usually kept the fuel selector valve in the on position, and that he did not use a checklist or confirm that it was in the full on position before takeoff.
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
- Fuel starvation during takeoff defining event
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 350 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 2016
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HLN Helena MT at 2:00 pm
- Destination: 38S Deer Lodge MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,989 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KHLN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR16CA145.