Piper PA-28-235 accident near Westminster, Maryland, September 15, 1996
On September 15, 1996 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N9074W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westminster, Maryland (Clearview 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's misjudgement of his speed and distance, his failure to attain the proper touchdown point during the landing, and his delay in executing a go-around (aborted landing), which resulted in an overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 1996 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Westminster, Maryland · Clearview · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N9074W · no longer on the register · serial 10674
- 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 behind a Cessna. He stated that there was no radio communication with the Cessna, and after it landed, it maneuvered as if to take the runway again. However, it stopped short with its nose over the right side of the runway. The pilot stated that he came in with 40 degrees of flaps at about 70 mile per hour (MPH). He said that he came in high over the Cessna, pulled power and descended to the runway. His last known airspeed was between 80 and 85 mph. He said he touched down below the numbers, applied the brakes, and the aircraft seemed to slow. He said that at about 10 to 15 feet from the end of the runway, he was too fast, and the aircraft was not slowing down properly. He said he applied power to go around, but the airplane struck the trees off the end of the runway.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 397 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 315 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTN Issex MD at 7:25 pm
- Destination: 2W2
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 1,845 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from BWI
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.
Other NTSB records under N9074W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.