Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Cambridge, Maryland, October 23, 2010
On October 23, 2010 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N56101, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Cambridge, Maryland (Cambridge-Dorchester Airport). It was an instructional 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 commercial pilot’s inadequate flare during landing and the certificated flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 2010 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cambridge, Maryland · Cambridge-Dorchester Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N56101 · registry record · serial 28R-7335354
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI), the purpose of the flight was for him to give instruction to the commercial pilot, who was working toward his flight instructor certificate. At the destination airport, the CFI demonstrated a power-off 180-degree approach to landing. The commercial pilot successfully demonstrated four of the same approaches and began the fifth approach. During the landing, the commercial pilot misjudged the landing flare which resulted in a firm touchdown. The CFI attempted to maneuver the airplane in a nose-high configuration, but was unable to apply enough back pressure to prevent a firm touchdown, due to the force being applied by the commercial pilot. Upon touchdown, the CFI executed a go-around maneuver and then flew to the home airport where they landed without incident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the outboard and inboard ribs. The flight instructor stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the hard landing.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,822 hours in all; 149 in this make and model; 169 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 1,624 as pilot in command; 1,377 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 13, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 628 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 8, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,457 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 2010
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Seniram Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: ANP Edgewater MD at 5:00 pm
- Destination: KCGE Cambridge MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,477 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from ESN, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.