- Date
- August 1, 1999, 21:15 local (Aug 2, 1999, 01:15 UTC)
- Place
- Westminster, MD
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N6357YBeech A36
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report November 22, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990801028519A
- Case key
- 47011
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he flew a straight-in approach, and touchdown was normal. Then, the airplane veered to the right, off the side of the runway, and into a ditch. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, and a local mechanic, did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. A Maryland State Police trooper observed skid marks, left on the runway by all three landing gears. According to the trooper, the main gear skid marks were oriented 20 degrees to the right of the runway centerline, before the nose gear touched down.
Factual narrative
On August 1, 1999, about 2115 Eastern Daylight Time, a Beech A36, N6357Y was substantially damaged while landing at Carroll County Regional Airport (W54), Westminster, Maryland. The certificated airline transport pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated from Martin State Airport, Baltimore, Maryland. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he flew a straight-in approach to Runway 34 at W54. The touchdown was normal, then the airplane veered to the right. He was unable to control the airplane, and it went off the right side of the runway, into a ditch. The pilot further stated that he was not sure if the loss of control was pilot error or a mechanical problem. During the morning hours, on the day of the accident, air was added to the right tire. Subsequently, the pilot flew with a student before the accident flight. The student pilot reported that the left rudder pedal had to be depressed to taxi the airplane along a straight line.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, and a local mechanic, did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The inspector observed damage to the propeller, landing gears, and webbing along the longeron.
An on-site examination was conducted by the Maryland State Police. According to the trooper, all three landing gears left skid marks on the runway. The trooper stated that the main wheel skid marks were oriented 20 degrees to the right of the runway centerline, before the nose gear touched down. The skid marks continued for approximately 505 feet, off the right side of the runway and onto the grass.
The reported winds, at an airport approximately 30 miles from the accident site, at 2054, were from 280 degrees at 8 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6357Y
- Reported as
- Beech A36
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- E-2035
- Airframe hours
- 2,740
- Engine
- Continental IO520B, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Molloy Aviation Services
- Registered owner
- Hunger Ford Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 2, 1999 · 115 hours before
- Departed
- MTN · Baltimore, MD
- Destination
- W54
- Airport
- W54 · Carroll County Regional, runway 34, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,637 total · 900 in this make and model · 6,510 as pilot in command · 110 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BWI, 27 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.