Amateur-built LANCAIR 320 accident near Baltimore, Maryland, April 15, 2011
On April 15, 2011 at about 6:15 pm local time, a amateur-built LANCAIR 320, registered N57CW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Baltimore, Maryland (Martin State 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 improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 2011 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Baltimore, Maryland · Martin State Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR 320
- Registration
- N57CW · registry record · serial 454-320-203-FB
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern, completed all prelanding checklist items, and turned from base to final approach for landing. The airplane was high and fast on final. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced twice and veered to the left before coming to a stop. The nose gear separated, the left main landing gear punctured the left wing resulting in substantial damage, and the right main landing gear folded. Postaccident examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no anomalies. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident and that he should have performed a go-around after the first bounce.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 8,600 hours in all; 1,900 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 8,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 20, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,774 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 11, 2011; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,685 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HVN New Haven CT at 5:00 pm
- Destination: MTN Baltimore MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 6,996 ft by 180 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from MTN
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.
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.