Wicomico County Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Salisbury, Maryland 21801
Thursday, July 11, 1996 12:33 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left and departed the runway. The student pilot stated that his attempt to regain directional control using the right rudder pedal was unsuccessful. The airplane veered off the runway, spun around, and the right main gear collapsed. Postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear bolt had failed. The right main landing gear bolt was examined further at the NTSB metallurgical laboratory. The examination revealed that the landing gear bolt failed as a result of tensile overstress.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1233
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SALISBURY
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21801
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WICOMICO COUNTY REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SBY
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 52
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1233 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SBY
Elevation of weather observation facility 52
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1969
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 11 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:12AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N91493
NTSB Number IAD96LA112
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-82A0041
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 15 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 94
Airframe Hours 4569
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FLYING DUTCHMAN AIR SVC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 255 WOOD LANE
Aircraft Owner City LANGHORNE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19047
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SBY
Departure City
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 1233
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N54
Destination City LANGHORNE
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 14
Runway Length 5500
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --