Casualties unknown

2005-04-14: Cessna 337G (N53548) — Oakland, MD

Oakland, MD, US

On April 14, 2005, a Cessna 337G (registration N53548) was involved in an aviation accident near Oakland, MD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's delay in aborting the landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush into the trees. A factor in the accident was the tailwind. 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 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During a visual approach, a pilot struggled to descend and landed long on a runway with a tailwind. After aborting the landing, the aircraft overran and struck trees and terrain.

Incident Overview

A pilot executing a straight-in visual approach to a non-towered airport reported difficulty in descending. The pilot reduced power and deployed flaps to the approach setting, but the aircraft 'just didn't seem to be dropping like we should.' Increasing flap extension and further reducing engine power did not resolve the high approach profile.

Approach and Landing

Over the runway threshold, the airplane was 'a little high, and a little fast.' It touched down approximately halfway down the runway. The pilot determined that the remaining runway length was insufficient to stop and aborted the landing. The aircraft continued beyond the runway end and collided with trees and terrain.

Contributing Circumstances

The pilot had not tuned the radio to the correct frequency and was unable to obtain current weather conditions at the airport. The pilot later stated that a direct tailwind of about 8 knots was present during the landing attempt. When questioned about the aircraft's handling and performance, the pilot said, 'It was performing perfectly,' and described the landing as a 'bad decision.'

Conclusion

The incident involved a high and fast approach, a tailwind landing, and an aborted landing that resulted in a runway excursion and collision with obstacles. No other factors or determinations were provided.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20050421X00493. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.