Fairchild 24R N25329

Summary

On 21 May 2017 at about 17:00 local time, a Fairchild 24R registered N25329 was involved in an accident near Catlett, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 May 2017 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Catlett, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Maples Field (VG57)

Coordinates

38.6056, -77.5847

Aircraft

Fairchild 24R

Registration

N25329

Category

Airplane

Year built

1940

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Remington → Catlett

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA295

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in the airplane impacting wheat stalks and a subsequent nose-over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the approach to land on a grass airstrip, he avoided power lines and buildings that were located at the approach end of what he perceived to be the runway. Before the landing flare, he realized that what he perceived as the runway was a wheat field. The airplane's main landing gear became entangled with the wheat stocks, and the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to the engine mounts, the rudder, the vertical stabilizer, and the wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.