Cessna 150 accident near Leonardtown, Maryland, March 31, 1999
On March 31, 1999 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N8524J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leonardtown, Maryland (Saint Marys County Apt. 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 control of the airplane during a crosswind landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 1999 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Leonardtown, Maryland · Saint Marys County Apt. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N8524J · no longer on the register · serial 150-66424
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a solo landing to Runway 29, the pilot experienced a 'wind shear' from the left. The right main landing gear struck the ground, and a porpoise ensued. The front landing gear collapsed and the propeller struck the runway. Approximately 3 minutes after exiting the airplane, the pilot observed 'the airplane on fire.' Winds were reported at an airport approximately 7 miles away, from 210 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot reported a total flight experience of 29 hours, including 3 hours of solo flight experience.
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: 29 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,650 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 19, 1999; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 2W6 at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,150 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from NHK, 7 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.