Cessna 172 accident near Mitchellville, Maryland, March 24, 1995
On March 24, 1995 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N66010, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mitchellville, Maryland (Freeway Airport). It was an instructional 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 failure to maintain directional control and the instructor's inadequate supervision. Related factors: high winds, and a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 1995 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Mitchellville, Maryland · Freeway Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N66010 · registry record · serial 17275947
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS AUTHORIZED BY HIS INSTRUCTOR TO OPERATE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. HE HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 36, AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, INTO A DITCH, AND NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WINDS WERE, 'BLOWING GREATER THAN FORECASTED, [FROM 270] AT 15 KNOTS, [GUSTS] TO 35 KNOTS.' THE PILOT WROTE ON HIS STATEMENT, '...ON ROLL OUT AIRCRAFT WEATHER VANED INTO WIND, LEFT RUNWAY, WENT INTO DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER.' RUNWAY 36 WAS 30 FEET WIDE AND 2400 FEET LONG.
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: student
- Flight time: 55 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 24, 1995; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,400 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 31.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.