Cessna 172 accident near Westminster, Maryland, June 24, 1998
On June 24, 1998 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6640H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westminster, Maryland (Clearview Airpark 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 misjudgment of distance and speed during the approach/landing, and his delay in initiating a go-around. The quartering tailwind was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1998 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Westminster, Maryland · Clearview Airpark · 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
- N6640H · registry record · serial 17265520
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While returning to his home base, the student pilot became disorientated, and requested assistance from Baltimore Approach Control. Baltimore provided the pilot with radar vectors to an airport. He landed on runway 13 with a wind from 270 degrees at 12 knots. After touching down, the pilot realized that airport was a short field, and that he was not configured for that type of landing. He attempted a go-around, but could not get the airplane to lift off. Subsequently, it nosed over and came to rest inverted.
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: 41 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1998; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FDK Frederick MD
- Destination: GAI Gaithersburg MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 1,845 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from BWI, 25 miles away
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.