Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nome, Alaska 99762
Wednesday, March 9, 1988 23:47 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED AN IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP DURING THE ENROUTE PHASE OF THE FLIGHT. THE LEFT FITTING THAT SECURES THE FRONT SPARS OF THE STABILIZERS TO THE FUSELAGE REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF PRE-EXISTING FATIGUE CRACKING. THE INITIAL SEPARATION OF THE LEFT STABILIZER WAS INDICATIVE OF AN UPWARD FAILURE, WITH THE INITIAL SEPARATION IN THE FRONT SPAR. THE PILOT WAS A CERTIFIED A&P MECHANIC. NO PILOT OR AIRCRAFT LOGS WERE RECOVERED. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND INDICATING MAINTENANCE BEING PERFORMED BY PERSONS OTHER THAN THE PILOT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/9/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2347
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City NOME
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99762
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 27
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 496
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 11 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 810
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36202
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5115C
NTSB Number ANC88FA037
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model B35
Aircraft Series Identifier B35
Aircraft Serial Number D2399
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REGINALD SPECER BICKFORD
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1357
Aircraft Owner City NOME
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99762
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name REGINALD SPENCER BICKFORD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1357
Operator City NOME
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99762
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MCG
Departure City MCGRATH
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 2139
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OME
Destination City NOME
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --