# Accident 20170521008919A: Fairchild 24R-40, Catlett, VA, May 21, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 21, 2017, 13:05 local time
- Place: Catlett, VA
- Airport: Maples Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.6056° N, 77.5847° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6056&lon=-77.5847&mi=10
- Aircraft: N25329, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N25329) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Fairchild 24R-40 (registry code 3370508, https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-24r-40) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Fairchild 6-440 series (registry code 26003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/fairchild-6-440-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD 24R-40
- Reported engine: FAIRCHILD 6-440 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 530 total, 60 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA295) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170521008919A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED A GRASS AIRFIELD WITH ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD.  HE FLEW TO ANOTHER GRASS AIRFIELD WHERE HE JOINED THE PATTERN AND MADE AN APPROACH TO LAND.  PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD NEVER LANDED AT THIS AIRSTRIP BEFORE AND DID NOT DO A LOW APPROACH TO ASSESS THE AREA.  PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MISTOOK A HAY FIELD FOR THE GRASS RUNWAY.  AS THE PLANE DESCENDED, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR BEGAN HITTING THE HAY WHICH CREATED ENOUGH DRAG CAUSING THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE TO PITCH DOWN.  THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND AND THEN THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK SUFFERING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  BOTH PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EXTRICATE FROM THE WRECKAGE WITH MINIMAL ASSISTANCE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA17CA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA295), May 21, 2017: Fairchild 24R (N25329), Catlett, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in the airplane impacting wheat stalks and a subsequent nose-over.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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