Beech V35B accident near Westminster, Maryland, June 7, 1996
On June 7, 1996 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N369JR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westminster, Maryland. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fracture of the engine crankshaft which had a subsurface origin and progressed in fatigue until overload and separation occurred.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1996 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Westminster, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N369JR · no longer on the register · serial D9232
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the preflight, taxi and runup were normal. After takeoff, he retracted the landing gear, climbed to 2000 feet mean sea level, and after he steadied on his outbound heading, the pilot stated he reduced RPM. His normal amount of control input for reduction in RPM brought about too large of a reduction in power and was associated with a rough engine at first, and then a loss of engine sounds. After lowering the nose of the airplane, he changed fuel tanks, checked individual magnetos and turned back towards the airport. It was at this time that the pilot believed he heard a knock and shortly thereafter, the propeller stopped windmilling. His attention was now focused on choosing a field in which to land. He altered his selection of a field based on some trees, and when he saw that he had his alternate field made, he selected the gear down. The pilot stated that the landing gear did not have enough time to extend and the airplane slide on a mowed hay field for approximately 300 feet.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 950 hours in all; 698 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,255 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1996; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO520-BA-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W54 MD at 3:45 pm
- Destination: HGR Hagerstown MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°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.