Beech E50 accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee, June 28, 1997
On June 28, 1997 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Beech E50, registered N4265R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee (Tullahoma Regional airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 7 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
improper operation of the engine that produced internal damage, and improper servicing of the airplane by the owner/pilot mechanic that resulted in the subsequent mechanical failure of the engine crankshaft counterweight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to feather the propeller.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1997 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tullahoma, Tennessee · Tullahoma Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 7 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E50 · all E50s on the register
- Registration
- N4265R · no longer on the register · serial LH166
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was being used for sport parachute operations. During the initial climb after takeoff the right engine failed followed by the airplane's slow descending right turn into wooded terrain. The airplane crashed through trees and caught on fire. The fire was extinguished prior to the destruction of the airplane. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed that one crankshaft counterweight had broken its retaining lugs and was liberated inside the engine, resulting in sudden stoppage of the engine. The sudden stoppage prevented the pilot from feathering the propeller. Metallurgical examination of the crankshaft and counterweight revealed damage that was consistent with 'detuning' of the engine counterweights. Counterweight detuning results from excessively rapid throttle movements. Additionally, the engine log indicated that during an oil change 8 days before the accident, wear metal was found in the oil. The airplane continued to be flown with no further maintenance action taken.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,190 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 5,190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,564 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 26, 1996; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-480-1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: THA at 7:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from THA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 6 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL97LA091.