College Park Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

College Park, Maryland 20740
Monday, February 19, 1990 14:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH WITH 30 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND AN AIRSPEED OF 80 MPH, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. THE ACFT CONTACTED TREES AND DESCENDED TO THE TERRAIN. THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, LOCAL WINDS WERE SHIFTING FROM 290 DEGS TO 330 DEGS AT 20 GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS. THE APCH TO RWY 33 WAS OVER THE TREES & WAS KNOWN TO BE TURBULENT WHEN GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS EXISTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. THE ADVERSE WIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/19/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City COLLEGE PARK
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20740
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COLLEGE PARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 30
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 225
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 19 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40991
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:46PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7958D
NTSB Number BFO90LA027
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model H35
Aircraft Series Identifier H35
Aircraft Serial Number D-5217
Certified Max Gross Weight 2910
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 17 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 22
Airframe Hours 3254
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES W BRANCHE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1301 KALMIA ROAD N.W.
Aircraft Owner City WASHINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20012
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES W. BRANCHE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1301 KALMIA ROAD, N.W.
Operator City WASHINGTON
Operator State DC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 20012
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1350
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 2740
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --