Cessna/Air Repair INC 305F accident near Embden, Maine, April 18, 2009
On April 18, 2009 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna/Air Repair INC 305F, registered N60537, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Embden, Maine (Embden 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 failure to obtain the proper touchdown point while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 2009 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Embden, Maine · Embden Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna/Air Repair INC 305F · all 305Fs on the register
- Registration
- N60537 · no longer on the register · serial AR-9
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a local flight while returning to his privately owned air strip, the pilot reported that he corrected for a sudden crosswind which resulted in a long landing. The airplane rolled onto a soft, unimproved area, causing the airplane to nose over. Structural damage to the airplane was evidenced by wrinkling of the upper wing skin above the cockpit and also in the area of the right wing lift strut attach point. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions.
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 overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 177 hours in all; 130 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 12, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 176 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2008; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: None Embden ME at 6:15 pm
- Destination: None Embden ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from WVL, 13 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N60537 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.