Beech G35 accident near Yakima, Washington, June 21, 2002
On June 21, 2002 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech G35, registered N4647D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yakima, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Empennage flutter which resulted in structural damage during descent for landing. Turbulence was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2002 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yakima, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech G35 · all G35s on the register
- Registration
- N4647D · registry record · serial D-4803
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he experienced light to moderate turbulence approximately 10 minutes prior to the accident while cruising at an airspeed of about 150 mph. The pilot initiated a 1,000 foot per minute descent about 15 nautical miles northwest of the airport, and stated that his indicated airspeed was between 170 and 180 mph. During the descent, the pilot stated that the aircraft began to shake violently. The pilot applied equal pressure to the rudder pedals, pulled out the throttle, pitched up the nose to slow down, and the shaking stopped. The pilot continued the descent for landing without further incident. During the inspection of the airframe, wrinkles, creases and compression signatures were found in the skin to both the left and right sides of the empennage from fuselage stations (FS) 233.5 to FS 272 were noted. The airframe skin pulled away from five rivets located on the bottom of the empennage, along the left side, and forward of FS 256.9. The skin from left to right side pulled away from all of the empennage bottom rivets at FS 256.9. The skin pulled away from six of the rivets along the right side, and forward of FS 256.9. The two longitudinal running rivet rows on the bottom had the skin pulled away from seven rivets on the left side and six rivets on the right side. All applicable AD's had been complied with at the time. No AD speed restrictions were in effect for this model aircraft. Normal operating range for this model aircraft is between 66 - 175 mph.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 219 hours in all; 219 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 178 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 18, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,971 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 2001; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,775 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBVS Skagit Regional WA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: KYKM Yakima WA
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from YKM, 10 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.
Other NTSB records under N4647D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.