# NTSB ATL88LA205: Beech K35, N5335R, Greensboro, NC, June 30, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 30, 1988, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Greensboro, NC
- Location: 36.1013° N, 79.9411° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PIEDMONT TRIAD INTL (GSO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1013&lon=-79.9411&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7782
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA205
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7782/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA205

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb
  - propeller system/accessories,blade - fatigue (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT WAS CLIMBING TO 11,000 FEET WITH AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CLEARANCE WHEN A PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATED FROM THE HUB. THE BLADE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RECOVERED FROM THE YARD OF A LOCAL RESIDENT. THE FRACTURE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE CRACKING ORIGINATED IN THE THREADED PORTION OF HUB. THE FAILURE RESULTED FROM FATIGUE CRACKING THROUGH ABOUT 60% OF THE SHANK'S DIAMETER. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ON THE RUNWAY AFTER GLIDING FROM ABOUT 9,000 FEET WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5335R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5335R-1989-09-18), registration cancelled 1989-09-18, S/N D5803 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH K35
- Registry model: [Beech K35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-k35) (registry code 1151524) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 05803
- Airframe hours: 2690
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-C 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James And Joan P. Scott
- Registered owner: James P. Scott II
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1988, 62 hours before
- Departed: PDK, ATLANTA, GA
- Destination: WILMINGTON, DE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GSO, Greensboro, runway 5, 10,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 18,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GSO

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880630027269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880630027269A), Jun 30, 1988: Beech K35, Greensboro, NC, Substantial damage. Prop blade separated at cruise. Landed safe at nearby airport. Lost engine cowl. Damaged engine and empannage.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.