Casualties unknown

Empennage Wrinkling Discovered After In-Flight Vibration (N4268B)

Hollywood, FL, US

On December 25, 2002, a Beech F-35 (registration N4268B) was involved in an aviation accident near Hollywood, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot exceeded the design limits of the airplane which resulted in an in flight structural failure. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During descent, an airplane experienced vibration. The pilot reduced power and slowed. After landing, inspection revealed substantial wrinkling on the empennage near the horizontal stabilizers.

Incident Summary

According to the pilot, while descending from 3,500 feet at an indicated airspeed of 180 knots, the airplane began to vibrate. The pilot reduced power and raised the nose to slow the airplane. The descent was continued at 120 miles per hour. The airplane landed without any further incident.

Descent and Landing

The vibration occurred during the descent phase of flight. The pilot's response included reducing engine power and adjusting the aircraft's pitch attitude. The descent speed was subsequently maintained at 120 MPH. No other abnormalities were reported during the remainder of the flight, and the landing was uneventful.

Post-Landing Inspection

During the post-landing inspection of the airplane, the pilot discovered that the empennage aft of the rear bulkhead had substantial wrinkling in the area near the horizontal stabilizers. The wrinkling was noted as a structural anomaly. No other damage was reported. The specific cause of the vibration and wrinkling was not determined in the provided information.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20030114X00062. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.