Beech V35A accident near Martinsburg, West Virginia, May 29, 2002
On May 29, 2002 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Beech V35A, registered N45RG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Martinsburg, West Virginia. It was a positioning 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
Inadequate torque of the crankcase through bolts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2002 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Martinsburg, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35A · all V35As on the register
- Registration
- N45RG · no longer on the register · serial D-8768
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was en route when the engine lost partial power. The pilot was unable to maintain airspeed or altitude, and elected to perform a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane struck a fence post with the left wing. Examination of the engine crankcase halves revealed severe fretting at the number 2 main bearing bosses. The number 2 main bearing was broken into pieces and observed in the oil sump. Examination of the crankshaft revealed a fatigue fracture through the crank cheek between the number 2 main journal and the number 2 rod journal. The fracture surface and the journal surface were heat-tinted, and revealed evidence of rotational scoring. According to the engine logbook, the crankcase through bolts were torqued about 772 hours prior to the accident.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 877 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 111 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 561 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,123 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 25, 2001; 100 hours since
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skyworld Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: HGR Hagerstown MD at 6:30 pm
- Destination: W66 Warrenton VA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from MRB, 5 miles away
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.