Beech F35 accident near Orleans, Nebraska, May 29, 1998
On May 29, 1998 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Beech F35, registered N1AG, was destroyed in an accident near Orleans, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot selected a field with unsuitable terrain and stalled the airplane. Additional factors were the tower in the field, and engine failure due to the improper torque applied to camshaft bolts by other maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1998 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Orleans, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F35 · all F35s on the register
- Registration
- N1AG · registry record · serial 10329
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while en route at 9,500 feet msl, the engine quit and attempts to restart it were unsuccessful. The pilot picked out a field and maneuvered the airplane to a 'low key' position abeam his landing point at 1,200 feet agl. He reported extending the landing gear after low key, but when he was at the 90 degree position, he noticed a tower in the field. To avoid the tower, the pilot withheld flap extension and 'zoomed' the aircraft to clear the guy wires supporting the tower. The pilot reported that the airplane stalled at approximately 20 feet above ground level at 65 miles per hour. The engine teardown and inspection revealed broken camshaft gear drive attachment bolts. A metallurgical examination indicated that the failure was due to fatigue. The metallurgist reported the evidence of fatigue failure was exhibited by the beach marks and ratchet marks which suggested that the bolts were under torqued, thus leading to fatigue failure.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1998; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-225 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HDE Pueblo CO at 2:30 pm
- Destination: HSI Hasting NE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
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.