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Atlas / NTSB / SEA91LA206

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event SEA91LA206

1991-08-11 BELGRADE, Montana, United States Airport · BZN None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N18307

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

BEECH V35B

Year of manufacture

1977 · 14 years old at event

Engine

CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 hp)

Seats / Engines

6 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19770607

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A14E49

Registrant of record

WINGS MANAGEMENT LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB DURING THE TAKEOFF. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE OPEN CABIN WINDOW AND THE PILOT'S DIVERTING HIS ATTENTION.

Factual narrative

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING GEAR RETRACTION ON TAKEOFF THE RIGHT CENTER CABIN WINDOW OPENED. THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED BY THE AMBIENT NOISE AND ITS EFFECT ON HIS DAUGHTER WHO WAS SEATED ADJACENT TO THE WINDOW. THE PILOT THEN TURNED HIS ATTENTION TO SECURING THE WINDOW AND DURING THIS EVENT FAILED TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE CLIMB RATE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_SEA91LA206.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.