Vaughn Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kress, Texas 79052
Wednesday, May 19, 2004 19:28 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 1,911-hour certificated flight instructor reported that while in cruise flight, the propeller separated from the engine. The instructor stated that just prior to the propeller separating from the engine, he noticed a light oil spray covering the windscreen. The instructor then took control of the airplane and executed a forced landing to a nearby airport without further incident. The owner of the airplane reported that he was not aware of any anomalies leading to the failure of the propeller assembly, there were no pre-existing vibrations, no propeller changes, and to his knowledge, "no prior incursion or indications of this occurrence." Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft separated aft of the propeller flange. A metallurgical examination of the fractured area of the crankshaft revealed the fracture (consistent with fatigue) within the nitrided layer of the crankshaft originated from a small circumferential crack (consistent with overload) and progressed to the identification stamp. The origination from the original crack is undetermined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The in-flight separation of the crankshaft for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 5/19/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1928
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Kress
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79052
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 342345N
Event Location Longitude 1014601W
Event Location Airport Vaughn Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 29F
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 3500
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1925 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID PVW
Elevation of weather observation facility 3374
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) 6175
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17308
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date May 20 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 24 2005 9:13AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Lubbock, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6943Q
NTSB Number FTW04IA134
Missing Aircraft Indicator Y
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model A23A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number M-1085
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 9 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2389.8
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Mickey J. Tosh
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14600 Sundown Trail
Aircraft Owner City Amarillo
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79118
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 1E7
Departure City Amarillo
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1850
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PVW
Destination City Plainview
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 3900
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --