Beech C50 accident near Salem, Ohio, July 31, 1991
On July 31, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech C50, registered N9674R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salem, Ohio (Salem airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AND FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER FEATHERING SYSTEM FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. FACTORS WERE AIRCRAFT POOR CLIMB PERFORMANCE AS RESULTED OF THE UNFEATHERED PROPELLER AND OBSTRUCTIONS WHICH PREVENTED A RETURN TO THE AIRPORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Salem, Ohio · Salem · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C50 · all C50s on the register
- Registration
- N9674R · no longer on the register · serial CH-201
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH AND THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE WOULD NOT GO BELOW HALF POWER. THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT. AFTER ROTATION, THE RIGHT ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT RAISED THE LANDING GEAR AND ATTEMPETD TO FLY AROUND THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ON ONE ENGINE. THE RIGHT PROPELLER WOULD NOT FEATHER AND THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB. THE PILOT AVOIDED SEVERAL TREE LINES BEFORE DESCENDING GEAR UP INTO A FIELD OF CROPS AND SLID ONTO A ROAD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE CASTLE NUT HAD BACKED OFF THE RIGHT ENGINE'S CARBURETOR AND THE LINKAGE DISCONNECTED. THERE WAS NO COTTER PIN INSTALLED.
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, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4G3 North Benton OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from YNG, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.