Beech M35 accident near Gainesville, Georgia, November 21, 1984
On November 21, 1984 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Beech M35, registered N9760R, was destroyed in an accident near Gainesville, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 1984 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech M35 · all M35s on the register
- Registration
- N9760R · no longer on the register · serial D-6245
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING WHILE OPERATING IN VFR CONDITIONS ON A DARK NIGHT OVER ISOLATED TERRAIN. THE PLT STATED HE THOUGHT THE ENG EXPLODED & LOST VISUAL CONTACT DUE TO OIL SPRAYING ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE RT FRONT PASSENGER HELD A FLASHLIGHT ON THE ACFT FLT INSTRUMENTS WHILE THE PLT EXECUTED THE FORCED LANDING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONE BLADE OF THE PROPELLER (MCCAULEY BLADE # K102278YS) FAILED IN FATIQUE.
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
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,163 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1984; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Savannah GA at 10:10 pm
- Destination: Chattanooga TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from ATL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 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.
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.