Piper PA28-140 accident near Carrabassett, Maine, September 20, 2008
On September 20, 2008 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA28-140, registered N2318T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Carrabassett, Maine (Sugarloaf Regional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2008 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Carrabassett, Maine · Sugarloaf Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-140 · all PA28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N2318T · registry record · serial 28-7125567
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he completed a left base turn to final for landing on Runway 17. He reduced power, "attempted to flare," and the airplane landed "very" hard. He stated that the airplane "appeared to be porpoising" and bounced hard two more times before it slid to a halt. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He concluded, "My best guess is that my speed was too high and I was trying to land by instinct rather than watching the airspeed." The pilot reported that the winds were from 180 degrees at 4 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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
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
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 916 hours in all; 820 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 863 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 19, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,126 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 5,126 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: ASH Nashua NH at 9:50 pm
- Destination: B21 Carrabassett ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from LEW, 63 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC08CA316.