Taylorcraft DC-65 N36354

Summary

On 23 March 1996 at about 23:45 local time, a Taylorcraft DC-65 registered N36354, operated by Amelia Reid Aviation, was involved in an accident near Fremont, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 March 1996 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Fremont, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Taylorcraft DC-65

Registration

N36354

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Amelia Reid Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Jose → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA142

2 people had minor injuries.

the in-flight separation of a portion of one wooden propeller blade due to undetected dry rot in the wood fibers.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the flight instructor, the aircraft was in cruise when a sudden severe vibration went through the airframe. The pilot shut down the engine and noted that the brass abrasion strip and part of one wooden blade had separated. The pilot landed in a field, but could not stop the aircraft before it went down an embankment and into a ravine. An airframe and powerplant mechanic who recovered the aircraft reported that he saw evidence of dry rot in the remaining wooden blade section.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.