Beech B23 accident near Westminster, Maryland, October 6, 1990
On October 6, 1990 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Beech B23, registered N4005T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westminster, Maryland (Carroll County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. IMPROPER CROSSWIND COMPENSATION AND A VARIABLE, GUSTY CROSSWIND WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 1990 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Westminster, Maryland · Carroll County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B23 · all B23s on the register
- Registration
- N4005T · registry record · serial M-1111
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT THE CROSSWIND CAUSED HIM TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT OVER-CORRECTED. THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED BACK ACROSS THE RUNWAY, ACROSS A GRASSY AREA, AND IMPACTED A SMALL BRUSH-COVERED BERM LOCATED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE OUT OF 250 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 18 KNOTS; THE ACTIVE RUNWAY WAS RUNWAY 16.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 125 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,537 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 1990; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.