Piper PA-28-151 accident near Stevensville, Maryland, April 12, 2008
On April 12, 2008 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N403DS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Stevensville, Maryland (Bay Bridge Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudged speed/distance during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 2008 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stevensville, Maryland · Bay Bridge Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N403DS · no longer on the register · serial 28-7715078
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo private pilot said he made a straight-in approach to land, but was too high and fast, and did a go-around. He reported that on the next landing approach, he felt that he got behind the airplane, and again approached too high and fast, but landed anyway. He said the airplane ran off the end of the runway, and into a barrier. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. He said the airplane received damage to the nose and windshield. An FAA air safety inspector, who visited the airport, said he spoke with a witness who saw both approaches. He said the witness told him that on both approaches the airplane was high and fast, and that on the second approach the pilot forced the airplane onto the runway abruptly, running off the end and into a barrier.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Landing area undershoot during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wall/barricade › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 189 hours in all; 189 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 80 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,015 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delaware State University
The flight
- Departed from: 33N Delaware Airpar DE
- Destination: W29 Stevensville DE
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 29, 2,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.