Beech BE-99 accident near Neihart, MT
On August 18, 2004, a Beech BE-99 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Neihart, MT. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 18, 2004
- Place
- Neihart, MT
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-99 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 46.978°N, 110.610°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040825X01285
Official records · SEA04FA166
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- FAA ATC Package: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 17, 2004, about 2340 mountain daylight time, a Beech 99 Airliner, N199GL, operated as Alpine flight 5071, was destroyed during a collision with mountainous terrain approximately six nautical miles northeast of Neihart, Montana, near the summit of Big Baldy Mountain. The airplane was operated by Alpine Aviation, Inc, dba Alpine Air, of Provo, Utah, as a visual flight rules (VFR) non-scheduled domestic air cargo flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot-in-command and pilot rated, non-revenue, passenger received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Billings, Montana, at 2305. The flight-planned destination was Kalispell, Montana (FCA). On the evening of August 17, Salt Lake Center issued an Alert Notice (ALNOT) after radio and radar contact with the accident aircraft was lost. The following day, about 1145, the aircraft wreckage was located near the summit of Big Baldy Mountain. The accident flight was the return leg of a planned round-robin flight from Kalispell to Billings and back. The first leg of the flight arrived in Billings at 2156 MDT. The purpose of the CFR Part 135 cargo flight was to transport mail for the US Postal Service. The pilot rated passenger was a personal friend and a former flight student of the pilot-in-command. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot-in-command held an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate with airplane multi-engine land rating, and commercial privileges
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance during cruise, which resulted in the in-flight collision with mountainous terrain. Dark night conditions and mountainous terrain were contributing factors.
More accidents in MT
- Pilatus PC-12/45, Mar 22, 2009
- Beech D18S, Jul 5, 1987
- Cessna 550, Dec 18, 1992
- Beech V35B, Jun 24, 1982
- Cessna 182C, May 12, 2007
Browse: Montana · Beech aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
