Beech M35 accident near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, December 11, 1993
On December 11, 1993 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Beech M35, registered N9864R, was destroyed in an accident near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper engine overhaul by maintenance personnel. A factor in the accident was the failure of the engine crankshaft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 1993 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Chapel Hill, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech M35 · all M35s on the register
- Registration
- N9864R · no longer on the register · serial D-6413
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 2500 FEET, SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE, THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEMS AND NEEDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS GIVEN A WESTERLY HEADING TO THE AIRPORT, BUT HE REPORTED HE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A WOODED AREA ABOUT 15 FEET WEST OF AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE WAS CONSUMED IN THE POST CRASH FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CONNECTING ROD END BUSHINGS HAD NOT BEEN BORED TO THE PROPER DIAMETER. THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FRACTURED FOLLOWING HEAT STRESS FROM THE CONNECTING ROD RUBBING AGAINST THE CRANKSHAFT CHEEK.
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: 280 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: MQI Manteo NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 18 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from RDU, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.