Beech Sierra accident near Augusta, Maine, March 9, 2021
On March 9, 2021 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 1981 Beech Sierra, registered N3839J, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Augusta, Maine (Augusta State 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 pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and a subsequent runway excursion. Also causal 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
- March 9, 2021 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Augusta, Maine · Augusta State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech Sierra, built 1981
- Registration
- N3839J · registry record · serial MC-752
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing a practice power off 180° landing with his flight instructor onboard. While on short final approach to the runway the airplane’s bank angle was about 20° when the pilot entered the landing flare. The airplane dropped to the runway from a height about 5 ft and bounced. The flight instructor then assumed control of the airplane and increased engine power to full. The airplane departed the side of the runway but was not traveling fast enough to climb and it crossed a taxiway and another runway before coming to rest in the runway safety area. The left horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 852 hours in all; 537 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 775 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 5, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,113 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 710 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 3, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,380 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 4,408 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 5,001 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from AUG
Weather report (METAR): KAUG 091753Z AUTO 30013G22KT 10SM FEW039 SCT046 OVC065 04/M04 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP216 T00441039 10067 21022 53007
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 16, 2021. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Flight Instructor Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | 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.