# NTSB NYC85FA244: Beech V35B, N5NG, Warwick, RI, September 21, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 21, 1985, 10:26 local (14:26 UTC)
- Place: Warwick, RI
- Location: 41.7460° N, 71.4500° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from RHODE ISLAND TF GREEN INTL (PVD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7460&lon=-71.4500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35583
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85FA244
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35583/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85FA244

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,crankshaft - fatigue (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE EN ROUTE AT 5000' MSL, THE PLT TRANSMITTED THAT HE HAD AN ENG PROBLEM & REQUESTED CLEARANCE TO LAND AT THE PROVIDENCE/THEODORE FRANCIS GREEN STATE ARPT, WHICH WAS APRX 12 MI AWAY. THE PLT THEN ASKED THE CONTROLLER IF THAT WAS THE CLOSEST ARPT; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE RADIO CONGESTION, THE CONTROLLER HAD DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING THE PLT. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED TO THE PROVIDENCE ARPT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED ACROSS AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY APRX 2 MI FROM THE ARPT WHILE ON A HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION. DURING THE CRASH LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A CONCRETE DIVIDER/BARRIER. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENG CRANKSHAFT, PN 639243, HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE AT TWO LOCATIONS. THE FORWARD FAILURE WAS THRU THE CRANKCHEEK BETWEEN THE #2 MAIN BEARING JOURNAL & THE #3 CONNECTING ROD CRANKPIN. THE AFT FAILURE WAS THRU THE CRANKCHEEK BETWEEN THE #4 CONNECTING ROD CRANKPIN & THE #3 MAIN BEARING JOURNAL. BOTH FATIGUE CRACKS HAD SUBSURFACE ORIGINS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5NG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 9433
- Airframe hours: 2519
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA-10B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Flights, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 1985, 88 hours before
- Departed: ORH, WORCESTER, MA
- Destination: 0B6, CHATHAM, MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PVD, Providence, runway 16, 6,081 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,604 total, 1,304 in this make and model, 1,338 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PVD, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850921046649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850921046649A), Sep 21, 1985: Beech V35B, Providence, RI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The engine lost power and the aircraft hit a highway divider on landing. The crankshaft failed from faitgue cracks.

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.