Pembina Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pembina, North Dakota 58271
Sunday, January 29, 1995 8:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THERE WAS LIGHT BLOWING SNOW AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT AND RUNWAY WERE COVERED WITH ONE TO TWO INCHES OF NEW SNOW. HE CANCELLED IFR ABOUT 15 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION AND CONTINUED UNDER VFR. HE SAID HE INTENDED TO MAKE A LOW PASS TO OBSERVE THE CONDITION OF THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY. HE LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR AND FULL FLAPS, TURNED ON TO THE RUNWAY HEADING, AND OBSERVED THE ALTIMETER INDICATION AT 820 FEET. BEFORE HE REALIZED IT, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN SHORT OF RUNWAY 33.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's misjudgement of the actual altitude of the airplane. Factors were the visual illusion caused by the snow covered runway environment and the whiteout weather condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/29/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City PEMBINA
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58271
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PEMBINA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PMB
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 150
Airport Elevation 793
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 815 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 125
Weather Observation Facility ID O3Y
Elevation of weather observation facility 818
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 800
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 179
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 29 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1036
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N68DC
NTSB Number CHI95LA076
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model V35A-TC
Aircraft Series Identifier V35A-TC
Aircraft Serial Number D9883
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 7 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 1641
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILWEL INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5015 STATE RD.
Aircraft Owner City MONTEVIDEO
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 56265
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MVE
Departure City MONTEVIDEO
Departure State MN
Departure Country
Departure Time 645
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 3800
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --