Beech V35 accident near Lusby, Maryland, November 20, 2011
On November 20, 2011 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Beech V35, registered N9569Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Lusby, Maryland (Chesapeake Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain clearance from trees during a night approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 2011 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lusby, Maryland · Chesapeake Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35 · all V35s on the register
- Registration
- N9569Q · no longer on the register · serial D-8204
- 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, during the night flight, he made an initial pass to locate the airfield and to turn on the runway lights via the radio. He rejected the first approach when he lost sight of the landing area. He visually reacquired the field and began his second approach. During the second approach, he saw the runway lights from the approach end to the departure end and the windsock to the left of the runway. He recalled that he felt that the airplane was slightly low. He stated that, while he was on what he believed was short final, trees appeared in front of the windscreen, and trees limbs and branches began to hit the airplane. The airplane began to severely vibrate and shimmy, so the pilot reduced power and pushed the yoke forward to force the airplane onto the ground. The airplane collided with the ground, and the airframe was substantially damaged.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,149 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,042 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 14, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,277 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IGQ Lansing IL at 8:10 pm
- Destination: MD50 Lusby MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 13, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from NHK, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.