Amateur-built Pitts S-1D accident near Ridgely, Maryland, September 9, 2008
On September 9, 2008 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Pitts S-1D, registered N511MD, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Ridgely, Maryland (Ridgely Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight weather evaluation which resulted in an attempted landing in fog and subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2008 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgely, Maryland · Ridgely Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Pitts S-1D
- Registration
- N511MD · registry record · serial 52206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an attempted landing in fog at an uncontrolled airport, when the airplane impacted terrain. The pilot did not hold a valid Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate and did not possess an instrument rating. The airplane was unregistered, and was not equipped for flight in instrument conditions. The pilot had departed the airport sometime after 1800 eastern daylight time on the day of the accident, and returned to the airport approximately one hour later just prior to sunset. Preceding the departure a small temperature dew point spread existed, and the wind velocity had decreased until the wind was calm. During the accident flight, the temperature and dew point spread converged, which resulted in the formation of fog. No record of the pilot having received a weather briefing prior to the flight was discovered.
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
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- VFR encounter with IMC during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Loss of visual reference during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weather planning › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Fog › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RJD Ridgely MD at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,214 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 0 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 10:57 pm from ESN, 14 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.