Beechcraft A36 N4507S

Summary

On 25 May 1998 at about 19:01 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N4507S was involved in an accident near Middletown, Rhode Island, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 May 1998 at 19:01

Classification

Accident

Location

Middletown, Rhode Island, United States

Nearest airport

Newport State Airport (UUU)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N4507S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nantucket → Danbury

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC98FA112

2 people died.

The shift of the number 2 engine bearing, which in turn blocked oil lubrication, and resulted in crankshaft failure. Also causal, was the pilot's decision to continue toward the airport instead of performing a forced landing to an available field. Factors include the relatively low ceiling, and the pilot's airspeed control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

At 6,000 feet, the instrument-rated pilot reported an engine failure, and received vectors to an airport. After the turn, the airplane was 6 nautical miles away, at 4,000 feet. After descending through clouds, the pilot reported, at 1,200 feet, the airport in sight. The airplane then descended rapidly, straight ahead, and hit the ground upright, about 1/2 mile short of the runway. The initial impact point was at the far end of a pasture, which extended off to the pilot's right. The airplane then bounced and collided with a stone wall. Witnesses thought the airplane would make the runway, but it appeared to level off, climb slightly, then fall forward. The stall warning horn sounded upon exiting the clouds, and remained on until impact. The landing gear was in transit at impact. Radar revealed a groundspeed of 81 knots at 1,200 feet, which decreased to 62 knots by 400 feet. The operating handbook stated that power off, 81 knots were required to assure controllability during the flare. The engine crankshaft was found broken in two places. The number two bearing was pounded, and had moved in its saddle. Saddle oil lubrication holes were blocked by metal, and the crankshaft exhibited ladder cracking.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.