No fatalities

Aircraft Damaged After Landing on Closed Runway Section at Waterville (N211PB)

Waterville, ME, US

On August 6, 1989, a Cessna 421C (registration N211PB) operated by Daniel C.hostetter was involved in an aviation accident near Waterville, ME. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN NOTAMS, AND FAILURE OF THE APPROACH CONTROLLER TO PROVIDE A SAFETY ADVISORY ABOUT THE RUNWAY CONDITION. 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 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot landed on Runway 5 at an uncontrolled airport believing it was 5500 feet long, but the northeast 2700 feet was closed. He failed to stop before barricades, exited left into mud, grass, and construction materials, damaging the aircraft.

Incident Details

During arrival at Waterville, the flight was handed off to Brunswick approach control and was cleared for a VOR/DME approach to the uncontrolled airport. The pilot subsequently landed on Runway 5, which he believed to be 5,500 feet long. However, the northeast 2,700 feet of the runway was closed. The pilot reported that he failed to come to a complete stop before reaching barricades, so he exited the runway to the left. The aircraft then encountered mud, grass, and construction materials and was damaged.

Pilot Briefing

The pilot had received a weather briefing before the flight. However, he interrupted the briefing before it was finished and did not obtain information about NOTAMs.

Controller Communication

The approach controller did not advise the pilot about the runway condition.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 6 Aug 1989 Cessna 421C accident near Waterville, ME?

A pilot landed on Runway 5 at an uncontrolled airport believing it was 5500 feet long, but the northeast 2700 feet was closed. He failed to stop before barricades, exited left into mud, grass, and construction materials, damaging the aircraft.

Were there any fatalities in the 6 Aug 1989 Cessna 421C accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 6 Aug 1989 involved a Cessna 421C, registration N211PB, operated by Daniel C.hostetter, at Waterville, ME.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN NOTAMS, AND FAILURE OF THE APPROACH CONTROLLER TO PROVIDE A SAFETY ADVISORY ABOUT THE RUNWAY CONDITION.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X29235. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.