Beech G35 accident near Kent, Washington, August 18, 1987
On August 18, 1987, a Beech G35, registered N4235D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kent, Washington (Crest Airpark airport). 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1987
- Place
- Kent, Washington · Crest Airpark · 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
- N4235D · no longer on the register · serial D4445
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER ROTATION A PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE REMAINING PROPELLER HUB ASSEMBLY AND THE OTHER BLADE ALSO FALLING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. THE HUB WAS OVERHAULED 7 HRS. BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLERS AND HUB ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE SEPARATION OF THE BLADE FROM THE HUB WAS THE RESULT OF THE USE OF THE SEVERELY DAMAGED BLADE RETENTION NUT IN THE OVERHAULED PROPELLER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 518 hours in all; 518 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 494 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,609 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ELN Ellenburg WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.