On August 21, 1995, Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529 departed Atlanta, Georgia, for Gulfport, Mississippi, carrying 26 passengers and three crew members aboard an Embraer EMB-120RT Brasilia, registration N256AS. What began as a routine regional flight turned into a desperate emergency when a propeller blade broke apart at 18,100 feet, leaving the aircraft struggling to remain controllable.
About 31 minutes after takeoff, the airplane crashed near Carrollton, Georgia. Eight people were officially classified as having died from injuries within 30 days, while a ninth passenger died four months later from severe burn injuries.
The flight had been operating normally as it climbed away from Atlanta. The cockpit voice recorder later revealed that the crew had been discussing minor operational issues, but there was no indication of the catastrophic failure to come.
At about 12:43 p.m., while climbing through roughly 18,100 feet, loud thuds and warning indications suddenly appeared in the cockpit. The crew identified a left engine failure. The aircraft began shaking violently as the pilots attempted to feather the propeller and secure the engine.
The situation was far worse than a normal engine shutdown. One of the four propeller blades had fractured and separated. The resulting imbalance severely damaged the left engine nacelle, displacing the propeller and gearbox and creating extreme aerodynamic drag.
At 12:44:26, the crew declared an emergency to Atlanta Center while descending through about 14,200 feet. Air traffic control initially cleared a return to Atlanta, but the pilots quickly realized they could not maintain altitude and needed a closer airport.
The first officer informed the flight attendant, who immediately began preparing the cabin. Passengers were briefed on the brace position and checked for understanding.
By 12:46, the crew requested an airport “quick.” West Georgia Regional Airport near Carrollton, about 10 miles away, was identified. The aircraft turned toward it, but control was already severely compromised….
