North American B-25J accident near Midland, Virginia, May 10, 1997
On May 10, 1997 at about 12:10 pm local time, a North American B-25J, registered N9456Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Virginia (Washington-Faquier airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude during the final approach. A factor in the accident was the exposed runway lip/edge.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1997 · about 12:10 pm local time · cases in 1997
- Place
- Midland, Virginia · Washington-Faquier · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American B-25J · all B-25Js on the register
- Registration
- N9456Z · registry record · serial 44-29939
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Upon arrival at the airport, the pilot executed a flyover of the airport and entered a left downwind pattern for runway 32. According to the pilot, the airplane experienced light turbulence during the descent below 2,500 feet and throughout the traffic pattern. He said that while on final approach, the airplane was buffeted by gusty winds that required several power applications to maintain his approach speed. The pilot stated that while on short final, the airplane began to settle due to windshear and gusty winds, and the airplane touched down at the edge of the runway. Examination of the runway and wreckage by an NTSB Investigator revealed tire marks on a 3 to 4 inch raised area at the approach end of the runway surface. Tire marks on the runway extended for approximately 3/10 of a mile, where the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. Winds reported 12 miles northeast of the airport were from 310 degrees at 9 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,074 hours in all; 322 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 7,596 as pilot in command; 2,060 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,668 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 7, 1997; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 34,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R2600-35 (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: RDG Reading PA at 11:05 am
- Destination: W66
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 4,103 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from HEF, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9456Z on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- North American B-25 33 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- North American 1,297 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Wright R2600-35 7 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Port Angeles Seaplane Base · nearest airport
- Reading Rgnl/Carl A Spaatz Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Virginia 1,361 since 1982 · 228 in the last ten years
- Virginia 5,973 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/NYC97LA088.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.