Costruzioni Aeronautiche P2002 Sierra accident near Stevensville, Maryland, January 3, 2008
On January 3, 2008 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Costruzioni Aeronautiche P2002 Sierra, registered N26WR, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Stevensville, Maryland (Bay Bridge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to the failure of company maintenance personnel to comply with engine manufacturers requirements for carburetor adjustment during the 100-hour inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2008 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Stevensville, Maryland · Bay Bridge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Costruzioni Aeronautiche P2002 Sierra
- Registration
- N26WR · registry record · serial 144
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on short final approach the pilot reduced engine power to idle and the engine lost power. A forced landing was made in a field short of the runway and the airplane incurred substantial damage. Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, and a representative of the engine manufacturer revealed that the carburetor mixture and throttle stop were found to be out of adjustment. The Rotax maintenance manual requires checking of these adjustments during each 100-hour inspection.
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 engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › Scheduled maint checks › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,192 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2,024 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 133 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 1, 2007; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W29 Stevensville MD at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,903 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 11 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.65 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from ESN, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.