Globe GC1B accident near Cherry Point, North Carolina, April 1, 2001
On April 1, 2001 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Globe GC1B, registered N78321, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cherry Point, North Carolina (Cherry Point airport). It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fatigue cracking of the propeller hub that resulted in the in-flight separation of a propeller blade.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2001 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cherry Point, North Carolina · Cherry Point · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC1B · all GC1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N78321 · registry record · serial 2321
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Globe GC1B lost a propeller blade in-flight while maneuvering in the number two position of a formation of three airplanes, a propeller blade separated from the propeller hub assembly. The second propeller blade, along with the hub assembly, subsequently separated from the engine crankshaft. Examination of the recovered propeller hub fracture faces disclosed fatigue cracking. The fatigue fracture propagated until it intersected the outside hub surface. According to McCauley Propeller the fatigue fracture reduced the propeller hub load carrying capacity until it was no longer a sufficient cross section to carry the centrifugal load of the propeller.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 15, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,968 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 2001; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO 360C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NKT Cherry Point NC at 5:50 pm
- Destination: Cherry Point NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32L, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.59 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from NKT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N78321 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.