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Propeller Blade Separation During Instructional Flight Leads to Forced Landing (N6537P)

Conway, SC, US

On November 9, 1986, a Cessna 152 (registration N6537P) was involved in an aviation accident near Conway, SC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Fatigue crack originating from chordwise surface scratches underneath the painted finish. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A fixed pitch propeller blade separated three feet from the hub during a routine instructional flight, causing an imbalance that broke an engine mount and led to total power loss. The aircraft made a forced landing in a soft field and nosed over.

Incident Details

During a routine instructional flight, one blade of the fixed pitch propeller separated approximately three feet from the hub. The resulting imbalance caused a broken engine mount and a total loss of power. The pilot executed a forced landing in a soft field, during which the aircraft nosed over.

Investigation Findings

A metallurgical examination of the failed blade, designated design number 1A103, revealed a fatigue crack. The crack originated from chordwise surface scratches located underneath the painted finish. The propeller had accumulated 3,425 total service hours since new and had not been refinished during that time.

Probable cause

Fatigue crack originating from chordwise surface scratches underneath the painted finish.
Structural failure

Related events

Same aircraft family

All Cessna 152 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 9 Nov 1986 Cessna 152 accident near Conway, SC?

A fixed pitch propeller blade separated three feet from the hub during a routine instructional flight, causing an imbalance that broke an engine mount and led to total power loss. The aircraft made a forced landing in a soft field and nosed over.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 9 Nov 1986 involved a Cessna 152, registration N6537P, at Conway, SC.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Fatigue crack originating from chordwise surface scratches underneath the painted finish.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X35097. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.