Cessna 182E accident near Frederick, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1995
On May 23, 1995 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182E, registered N3168Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frederick, Pennsylvania (Spring Meadow 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 inadequate inflight planning by failing to verify the wind direction for landing. Also causal is the pilot's failure to obtain the proper touch down point and to do a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1995 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Frederick, Pennsylvania · Spring Meadow · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182E · all 182Es on the register
- Registration
- N3168Y · registry record · serial 18254168
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED IN HIS OWN AIRPLANE TO FLY TO HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S AIRSTRIP. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. UPON ARRIVAL AT HIS DESTINATION, HE ATTEMPTED A LANDING ON RUNWAY 31, A 1400 FOOT GRASS STRIP. THE STUDENT DECIDED THAT HIS APPROACH WAS FAST AND PERFORMED A G0-AROUND. THE STUDENT STATED THAT DURING A SECOND ATTEMPT, HE WAS STILL FAST ON FINAL, BUT ELECTED TO LAND, AND TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT MID-FIELD. THE AIRPLANE 'SKIDDED' TOWARDS THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH AND NOSED OVER. THE STUDENT ESTIMATED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT 15 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. THE STUDENT STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE DONE A GO-AROUND.
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: 114 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N9 Allentown PA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: PA85
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 1,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.