Washington-Faquier Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Midland, Virginia 22728
Saturday, May 10, 1997 8:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Upon arrival at the airport, the pilot executed a flyover of the airport and entered a left downwind pattern for runway 32. According to the pilot, the airplane experienced light turbulence during the descent below 2,500 feet and throughout the traffic pattern. He said that while on final approach, the airplane was buffeted by gusty winds that required several power applications to maintain his approach speed. The pilot stated that while on short final, the airplane began to settle due to windshear and gusty winds, and the airplane touched down at the edge of the runway. Examination of the runway and wreckage by an NTSB Investigator revealed tire marks on a 3 to 4 inch raised area at the approach end of the runway surface. Tire marks on the runway extended for approximately 3/10 of a mile, where the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. Winds reported 12 miles northeast of the airport were from 310 degrees at 9 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude during the final approach. A factor in the accident was the exposed runway lip/edge.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/10/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 810
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MIDLAND
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22728
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WASHINGTON-FAQUIER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W66
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 329
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 854 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 55
Weather Observation Facility ID HEF
Elevation of weather observation facility 193
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1919
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 10 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 810
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:17PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9456Z
NTSB Number NYC97LA088
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name North American
Aircraft Model B-25J
Aircraft Series Identifier B-25J
Aircraft Serial Number 44-29939
Certified Max Gross Weight 34000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Apr 7 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 9668
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MID ATLANTIC AIR MUSEUM
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11 MUSEUM DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City READING
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17109
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RDG
Departure City READING
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 705
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code W66
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 4103
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --