Lee Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edgewater, Maryland 21037
Saturday, December 9, 2006 17:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was conducting a night visual approach to a 2,500-foot-long, 48-foot-wide, runway. The airplane struck the tops of trees, about 100 feet tall, located about 560 feet prior to the runway, and 80 feet left of the extended runway centerline. An obstruction light was mounted on a pole near the trees; however, the height of the obstruction light was significantly below the surrounding trees and it was not illuminated at the time of the accident. The trees were depicted in an airport diagram; however, they would have been difficult to discern at night. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The airport was inspected by the Maryland State Aviation Administration approximately 8 months prior to the accident, and found to be in satisfactory operating condition. A subsequent obstruction analysis resulted in the trimming and or removal of numerous trees surrounding the airport, including the trees around the obstruction light, about 5 months after the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper altitude/clearance will on approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the night-light conditions, an obstruction light that was not illuminated, and trees that had grown above the height of the obstruction light.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/9/2006
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Edgewater
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21037
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 385640N
Event Location Longitude 0763425W
Event Location Airport Lee
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ANP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 34
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1754 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID NAK
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.45
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23817
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROC
NTSB Notification Date Dec 9 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2008 11:48AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Baltimore

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9449M
NTSB Number NYC07FA042
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 210K
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21059349
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Jun 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 122
Airframe Hours 5736
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Timothy A. Kramer
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City College Station
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77845
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code RNC
Departure City McMinnville
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1420
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ANP
Destination City Edgewater
Destination State MD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 16 2008 9:15PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 48
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --