N575B

On October 30, 1993, at 1250 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Beechcraft A-35, N575B, impacted the terrain during an attempted go-around (VFR) at Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which had departed Columbus Airport, Columbus, Montana, at about 1220 MDT, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, he was attempting to land in a gusty 60 degree crosswind of about 20 knots. While on short final, the aircraft became low on airspeed, landed hard, and bounced back into the air. The aircraft touched down again, and bounced back into the air a second time. At that point, the pilot elected to execute a go-around. During this attempt, he lost directional control of the aircraft, and it impacted the terrain near the side of the runway.