Beech 35 accident near Cheswold, Delaware, September 27, 1991
On September 27, 1991 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N2957V, was destroyed in an accident near Cheswold, Delaware (Delaware Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ARREST AN EXCESSIVE SINK RATE AND CRAB ANGLE WHILE LANDING HIS AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1991 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Cheswold, Delaware · Delaware Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N2957V · no longer on the register · serial D-352
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A HARD LANDING IN A 20 DEGREE RIGHT CRAB VERY NEAR THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 27. AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, THE RIGHT GEAR BROKE AWAY. AFTER CONTINUINING ABOUT 150 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK A SMALL DRAINAGE DITCH ABOUT 20 FEET TO THE NORTH OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 1,069 hours in all; 209 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,069 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,775 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1991; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental E-185-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2W6 St Mary'S CO MD at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from DOV, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.