Beechcraft 35 N3392V

Summary

On 3 August 1996 at about 21:35 local time, a Beechcraft 35 registered N3392V was involved in an accident near Yankton, South Dakota, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 August 1996 at 21:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Yankton, South Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Chan Gurney Airport (YKN)

Coordinates

42.8809, -97.3895

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35

Registration

N3392V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Farmington → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI96LA274

Nobody was injured.

an improper in-flight decision by the pilot when he shut the engine off as the airplane approached the landing runway. Factors associated with this accident were an inadequate maintenance inspection by the mechanic when the actuating arm fracture was not identified during the annual inspection occurring 5 months before the accident, and the pilot not maintaining a proper glidepath and descent rate on final approach after shutting his engine off.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane's nose landing gear would not extend. During the attempts to extend the nose gear the pilot said he pitched the airplane up and down. The propeller began cavitating during these attempts. The pilot reported loosing oil pressure as he approached the runway. When he felt he would be able to land the pilot said he stopped the engine. He said the airplane '...just quit flying....' The airplane collided with the ground about 150 yards short of the runway threshold. Inspection of the airplane revealed an open oil sump quick-drain fitting and a broken nose gear retracting actuator arm (arm). The bottom of the airplane was covered with oil. About 50 percent of the arm's fracture surfaces were corroded. Representatives from the airframe stated the failed arm will allow the landing gear to be free in the nosegear well. The oil quick-drain finger-holds can be contacted by the nosegear when the airplane is pitched up and down. The propeller manufacturer stated the propeller will go into a high blade angle when the oil supply is stopped. He said the rotating propeller will cause a considerable amount of drag if it is still rotating.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.