Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

February 8, 2018 · Beech 35 G35 · N4654D

Batesville, AR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 8, 2018
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Batesville, AR
Aircraft
Beech 35 G35 (1956)
Tail Number
N4654D
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN18LA099

The v-tail-equipped airplane was descending from cruise flight when it encountered turbulence, which was followed by shaking from the tail of the airplane. The pilot reduced engine power and pulled back slightly on the yoke. According to the pilot, the shaking stopped, and the airplane seemed to operate normally for the rest of the flight. After landing, the pilot noticed damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed buckling and wrinkling to the aft fuselage skins. Control cable tension could not be determined because of the fuselage damage. The balance of the ruddervators was checked and found to be within the manufacturer's specifications. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the airplane encountered tail surface flutter in turbulent conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause

An in-flight control system flutter encounter during a turbulence encounter; the reason for the flutter could not be determined.

Full Narrative

On February 8, 2018, about 1415 central standard time, a Beech G35 airplane, N4654D, sustained substantial damage during a flutter event near Batesville Regional Airport (BVX), near Batesville, Arkansas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Beaufort County Airport (ARW), Beaufort, South Carolina, at an unconfirmed time. The pilot reported that most of the flight was uneventful, and the airplane had performed "flawlessly". After about 4 hours of cruising flight, while descending through about 3,500 ft. msl, at 145 kts airspeed, the airplane encountered a few seconds of turbulence, followed by shaking coming from the tail of the airplane. The pilot reduced engine power and pulled back slightly on the yoke. The shaking stopped and the airplane seemed to be handling normally. The airplane then landed at BVX and upon exiting the airplane the pilot noticed the damage to the fuselage. The pilot noted that the flight was smooth except for the short period of turbulence encountered near the destination airport. The accident airplane was equipped with a V-tail empennage arrangement. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed buckling and wrinkling of the aft fuselage skins. All of the control cables running to the tail surfaces were loose and determination of the control cable tension prior to the event was not possible because of the aft fuselage damage. A balance check of the ruddervators revealed the left was tail heavy with a measured moment of 19.04 inch-lbs, and the right was tail heavy with a measured moment of 18.76 inch-lbs. According to the maintenance manual the acceptable maximum tail heavy moment for the accident airplane ruddervators was 19.8 inch-lbs. The Pilot's Operating Handbook for the accident airplane listed a maximum structural cruising speed of 152 kts, and a maneuvering speed of 113 kts. The airplane manufacturer issued a Safety Communique in 1993 which stated that to prevent flutter in any model airplane, control cable tension inspections should be performed and that after re-painting of control surfaces, verification of the control surface balance should be performed. Additionally, the G35 model was included in the effectivity for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airworthiness Directive (AD) 94-20-04 R2 which was issued to prevent structural failure of the V-tail, which could result in loss of control of the airplane. The actions stated in the AD included inspection and incorporation of the stabilizer reinforcements prescribed in Beech Service Bulletin No. 2188, dated May, 1987. The most recent annual inspection of the airplane, dated April 23, 2017, indicated that the AD had been complied with.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:15 CST
Nearest AirportBatesville Rgnl (12nm E)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireUnknown
Aircraft ExplosionUnknown

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 35 G35
Tail NumberN4654D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · E-225-8 · Reciprocating · 225
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 70 · Basc · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 28 C
Altimeter30.42 inHg
Observation Time19:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data