Cessna 337G accident near Oakland, Maryland, April 14, 2005
On April 14, 2005 at about 11:20 am local time, a Cessna 337G, registered N53548, was destroyed in an accident near Oakland, Maryland (Garrett County Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delay in aborting the landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush into the trees. A factor in the accident was the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2005 · about 11:20 am local time
- Place
- Oakland, Maryland · Garrett County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 337G · all 337Gs on the register
- Registration
- N53548 · no longer on the register · serial 33701692
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a straight-in visual approach to an non-towered airport, the pilot reduced power and adjusted the flaps to "approach" for the descent; "but we just didn't seem to be dropping like we should." The pilot increased the flap setting and reduced the engine power further, but the approach still appeared "high." Over the runway threshold, the airplane was "a little high, and a little fast", and touched down about halfway down the runway. The pilot determined that the airplane would not stop on the remaining runway, and aborted the landing. The airplane continued off the end of the runway and collided with trees and terrain. The pilot failed to tune the radio to the correct frequency, was unable to obtain the current weather conditions at the airport, and touched down with a direct tailwind of about 8 knots. When asked about the handling characteristics and the performance of the airplane, he said, "It was performing perfectly," and further described the landing as a "bad decision."
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 900 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2004; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-360-G (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-360-G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CBE Cumberland MD at 11:00 am
- Destination: 2G4 Oakland MD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 am from 2G4, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.