- Date
- June 29, 1996, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- Kissimmee, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5136CBeech B35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 10, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960629019919A
- Case key
- 38039
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot was operating the airplane at an indicated airspeed that exceeded the design speed for maximum gust intensity (VB), when clear air turbulence was encountered.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that while descending at an indicated airspeed of 170 miles per hour (mph), the flight encountered moderate to severe clear air turbulence. He then felt a momentary vibration through the airframe and reduced power. He continued toward the planned destination and made an uneventful landing. Postlanding inspection of the airframe revealed that the rear bulkhead was cracked and that both stabilators and both ruddervators were damaged. The ruddervators were removed and found to be within prescribed limits for static balance checks. Regarding airspeed, the flight manual for the airplane indicated that the beginning of the caution range (VB) was 164 mph.
Factual narrative
On June 29, 1996, about 0930 eastern daylight time, a Beech B35, N5136C, registered to West Fair, Inc., encountered clear air turbulence while descending near Kissimmee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 0830 from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The pilot stated that while descending from 2,000 to 1,500 feet in an area of unstable air with the power set to 24 inches manifold pressure, and at an indicated airspeed of 170 miles per hour, the flight encountered "moderate to severe turbulence." He then felt a vibration through the airframe and immediately reduced power. The vibration only lasted "a couple of seconds" and he elected to continue and landed uneventfully at his planned destination. Post landing inspection of the airplane revealed that the rear bulkhead was cracked and both stabilators and both rudders/elevators were damaged. The flight manual for the airplane indicates that the beginning of the caution range is 164 miles-per-hour.
Both rudders/elevators with attach hardware were removed from the airplane and found to be within prescribed limits for static balance tests.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5136C
- Reported as
- Beech B35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-2421
- Airframe hours
- 2,890
- Engine
- Continental E-185-8, 196 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- West Fair, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 7, 1995 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- KFLL · Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Destination
- KLEE · Leesburg, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 13,000 total · 1,600 in this make and model · 12,900 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 45 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MCO, 18 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.