Piper PA-22-108 accident near Belfast, Maine, March 4, 1995
On March 4, 1995 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-108, registered N5554Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belfast, Maine (Belfast Municiple airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions. A related factor was the presence of high snowbanks along the sides of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 1995 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Belfast, Maine · Belfast Municiple
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-108 · all PA-22-108s on the register
- Registration
- N5554Z · registry record · serial 22-9347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORT THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 15, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED LEFT OF THE RUNWAY'S CENTERLINE. THE STUDENT PILOT DECIDED TO GO AROUND. DURING THE GO AROUND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FOUR FOOT SNOWBANK WHICH RAN ALONG THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WIND HAD BEEN OUT OF THE SOUTH AT ABOUT 8 KNOTS. HE STATED THAT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A GUST OUT OF THE WEST.
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: student
- Flight time: 52 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1994; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BST at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 am from BGR, 26 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.