Beechcraft J35 N8255D

Summary

On 24 June 2013 at about 18:05 local time, a Beechcraft J35 registered N8255D, operated by Brent E Vetter, was involved in an accident near Helena, Montana, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 June 2013 at 18:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Helena, Montana, United States

Coordinates

46.7478, -112.0031

Aircraft

Beechcraft J35

Registration

N8255D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1957

Engines

1

Operator

Brent E Vetter

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Helena → Helena

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13FA288

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and subsequent impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A family member reported that the purpose of the flight was for the pilot to practice, as he had not flown in about a month. Three witnesses provided statements during the investigation. According to the first witness, he observed two airplanes heading north; the second airplane was lower but was climbing and was much faster than the first airplane. As the second airplane was closing in on the first airplane from below, the witness stated that it suddenly made what looked like an evasive maneuver. A second witness reported that he first heard the airplane when its engine suddenly "changed pitch and sped up." He then looked up and saw a single-engine, low-wing airplane in a nose-down attitude slowly spinning. He also stated that there were no other airplanes in the area at the time of the accident. A third witness reported that he heard "the props of a small plane struggling," and that he thought he heard a "bang" on impact. The witness stated that he could not say if there was another airplane in the area just before the accident. Personnel located at the local non-radar-equipped control tower reported that there was no indication of another airplane in the vicinity of the accident airplane just before the accident. Postaccident on-site examination of the wreckage revealed that the accident airplane impacted relatively flat, desert-like terrain in a steep, nose-down, left-wing-low attitude, which was consistent with a stall/spin sequence. All flight controls and components necessary for flight were accounted for at the accident site, and control continuity was established. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, it is likely that the pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.