Amateur-built Prostar B accident near Salisbury, Maryland, August 20, 2008
On August 20, 2008 at about 4:40 pm local time, a amateur-built Prostar B, registered N20HU, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Salisbury, Maryland (Salisbury-Wicomico County Regi 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
The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2008 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Salisbury, Maryland · Salisbury-Wicomico County Regi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Prostar B
- Registration
- N20HU · registry record · serial PT1184
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner/builder of the experimental amateur-built Prostar B was completing his first traffic pattern of the day, which was also the airplane's fourth flight. While on final approach for landing on Runway 23, the airplane's alignment was "a little left of centerline." The pilot adjusted the airplane's alignment with the runway, his airspeed "bled off" before the airplane "ballooned" and then dropped to the runway. The airplane experienced a hard landing, the main landing gear separated, and the airplane skidded to a stop on the runway. When asked about the performance and handling characteristics of the airplane, the pilot reported that the airplane was running fine, but that the left wing was "heavy" and that he had recently made rigging adjustments to correct it. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions. Winds reported at the airport were from 140 degrees at 5 knots.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 606 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 1, 2008; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBY Salisbury MD
- Destination: SBY Salisbury MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from SBY
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.