Beech S35 accident near Billings, Montana, September 27, 2021
On September 27, 2021 at about 1:22 am local time, a 1964 Beech S35, registered N354M, was destroyed in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Billings, Montana (Billings Flying Service airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper flare, which led to a hard landing, subsequent loss of control, and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2021 · about 1:22 am local time
- Place
- Billings, Montana · Billings Flying Service · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech S35, built 1964 · all S35s on the register
- Registration
- N354M · registry record · serial D-7516
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was conducting a cross-country flight with an intended destination that did not have runway lighting. As the airplane neared the intended destination, the pilot voiced his concern to one passenger (who was pilot rated) about the dusk conditions with no runway lights and the passenger reassured him about the landing. The pilot stated that, as the airplane was landing, the pilot-rated passenger knew something was wrong and told the pilot to “add power.” The airplane subsequently made a left turn and impacted trees in a nose-high attitude; a postimpact fire ensued. Witnesses located near the accident site reported observing the airplane on final approach. One witness stated that the airplane appeared to be “slightly high and slightly fast” while on final approach to the runway and that the airplane had “floated down the runway” before a hard touchdown. Another witness stated that the left wing appeared to have stalled, and that the airplane landed hard on the left main landing gear first. One of the witnesses further stated that the airplane began to “wobble” and depart the left side of the runway, which followed by an increase in engine power and a go-around attempt. The witness added that engine power continued as the left wingtip was dragged across the ground about halfway through the go-around attempt. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the runway and ground marks, and witnesses’ observations of the landing, the pilot continued an unstabilized landing approach, and delayed execution of a go-around, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent loss of airplane control.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 373 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,408.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-BB3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway E/W, 4,696 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KBIL, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBIL 270153Z 14004KT 10SM CLR 27/M05 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP067 T02671050
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on September 20, 2023. 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 | Witness Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Site, Airframe, and Engine Examination | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Recovered Wreckage Examination | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Airport Information | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Reports from Parties to the Investigation - Textron | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Video of the Accident Sequence | MOV file | 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.