# Accident 20020324006269A: Beech F35, Great Bend, KS, March 24, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 24, 2002, 19:30 local time
- Place: Great Bend, KS
- Airport: Great Bend Municipal
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.2192° N, 101.7058° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2192&lon=-101.7058&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4257B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4257B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech F35 (registry code 1151514, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental E225 series (registry code 17015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH F35
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW02LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA129) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020324006269A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON MARCH 24, 2002, APPROXIMATELY 1930 CST, A BEECH F35 SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE, N4257B, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING AN ENCOUNTER WITH TURBULENCE WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT NEAR AMARILLO, TX. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED CLOVIS, NM, APPROX. 1830, AND WAS DESTINED FOR BORGER, TEXAS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE IN LEVEL CRUISE FLIGHT AT 140 KNOTS INDICATED AIRSPEED, AT AN ALTITUDE OF 5,500 FEET MSL., THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED "CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE." THE AIRCRAFT ATTITUDE "WAS SUDDENLY THRUST NOSE HIGH AND VERTICAL." THE PILOT, "WITHOUT DIFFICULTY", RECOVERED THE AIRPLANE AND CONTINUED THE FLIGHT TO HIS INTENDED DESTINATION. WHILE TYING DOWN THE AIRPLANE ON THE RAMP IN BORGER, TEH PILOT NOTICED DAMAGE TO THE EMPENNAGE SECTION. THE NTSB WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE ON APRIL 23, 2002. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE SKIN WAS WRINKLED BETWEEN FUSELAGE STATIONS 233.0 AND 256.0. APPROX. 8" OF THE LOWER SKIN WAS TORN OUT FROM THE RIVETS. THE WICHITA ACO PARTICIPATED IN THE INVESTIGATION AND IS FOLLOWING UP WITH A TREND ANALYSIS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW02LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA129), Mar 25, 2002: Beech F35 (N4257B), Amarillo, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: Flutter due to the improper balance of the ruddervator, which resulted in structural damage to the aft fuselage.

## Other reports on N4257B (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19930711034779I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930711034779I), Jul 11, 1993: Beech F35 (N4257B), Little Rock, AR. Smoke coming from engine. Landed safely. Found NR3 engine piston broken off.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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