Snow S2A accident near Pasadena, Maryland, September 15, 1995
On September 15, 1995 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Snow S2A, registered N4977C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pasadena, Maryland (Mountain Road airport). It was an other work-use 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 inability to maintain directional control due to the failure of the right brake during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 1995 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Pasadena, Maryland · Mountain Road · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Snow S2A · all S2As on the register
- Registration
- N4977C · no longer on the register · serial 1020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A banner tow airplane veered off the left side of the runway during the landing roll, and collided with an automobile and a parked airplane. The pilot reported that the aircraft has a lockable non-steering tailwheel, which was locked for the landing. He stated that when he applied both brakes to stop the airplane, it began to veer to the left. He attempted to correct by applying more right brake, but the airplane continued off the left side of the runway. Postaccident examination revealed that the right brake had failed. Records indicated that the airplane had flown approximately 10 hours since the most recent Annual Inspection, completed 13 days prior to the accident.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,170 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 2,120 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 1995; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,460 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MD43 at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from BWI, 20 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.