Cessna 150L accident near Chestertown, Maryland, August 27, 2013
On August 27, 2013 at about 3:05 pm local time, a 1971 Cessna 150L, registered N1574Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Chestertown, Maryland (Breezecroft 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 student pilot's improper control inputs which resulted in a loss of control and aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2013 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Chestertown, Maryland · Breezecroft Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L, built 1971 · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N1574Q · no longer on the register · serial 15072874
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff on an instructional flight from a 2,200 foot long by 80 foot wide private grass runway, a loss of control occurred and the airplane struck the ground and nosed over. Neither the student pilot or flight instructor was injured. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it had been substantially damaged. According to the flight instructor, the airplane had 10 degrees of flaps extended for takeoff. After the student rotated the airplane for takeoff, the student pilot used right aileron instead of right rudder. The airplane began to slip to the right, the right wing "dropped"; the airplane then "pitched up", and entered an aerodynamic stall. The airplane then pitched nose down. The flight instructor tried to correct using left aileron, rudder and elevator. The airplane struck the ground with the left wingtip and nose, and then nosed over about 60 yards off the departure end of the grass runway. At the time of the accident, the prevailing wind in the area was in the process of shifting from a crosswind to a right quartering tailwind. The instructor advised the NTSB that he "should have taken control sooner."
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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Effect on operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 5,500 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command; 5,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 3, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 4 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,641 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200-A (piston); 3,641 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 05MD Chestertown MD at 3:05 pm
- Destination: 05MD Chestertown MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,700 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from KMTN, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on November 5, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements and Interview Summaries | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Satellite Image of Breezecroft Airport | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 1: End of Runway - Courtesy of FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 2: Main Wreckage - Courtesy of FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 3: Nose Damage - Courtesy of FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 4: Firewall Damage - Courtesy of FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo 5: Damage to Right Wing - Courtesy of FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photo 6: Damage to Left Wing - Courtesy of FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.