ERA18LA098

Factual narrative

On March 6, 2018, about 2117 eastern standard time, a Cirrus Design Corp. SR20, N101AD, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing at Harford County Airport (0W3), Churchville, Maryland. The private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Night, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight was operated by AMP Air LLC under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed Tom B. David Field Airport (CZL), Calhoun, Georgia at 1700.The pilot stated that before departure he checked the weather using several online weather resources and found that the destination airport was reporting visual meteorological conditions. About 30 minutes prior to their arrival it started snowing. He descended from 9,500 ft to 4,000 feet, to get out of the snow and to warmer temperatures. After reaching 4,000 ft he continued to descend and encountered a temperature inversion. With snow continuing to accumulate on the wings, he elected to divert and land at the closest airport. He approached the runway at a slightly higher airspeed than normal and the airplane "balooned" during touchdown and drifted off the side of the runway. He attempted a full power go-around, but was unable to gain enough airspeed to become airborne again. The airplane subsequently impacted two landscaping trucks. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. Photographs of the airplane taken by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the engine and the tail had separated from the airframe, and there was damage to the left wing and landing gear. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. He reported 501 hours of total flight experience. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on May 31, 2016. Runway 10 at 0W3 was 2,000 feet-long by 40 feet-wide, and was constructed of asphalt. A two light precision approach path indicator was installed on the left side of the runway. There were 62-foot-tall trees located 1,321 feet from the runway threshold. The weather conditions reported at Phillips Army Airfield (APG), Aberdeen, Maryland, about 6 miles south of the accident site, included wind from 160° at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots, visibility 5 statute miles, light rain, temperature 4° C, dew point 2° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.91 inches of mercury. The private pilot stated that, before departure for a cross-country, personal flight at night in visual conditions, he checked the weather using several online weather resources, which showed that the destination airport was reporting visual meteorological conditions. He reported that, about 30 minutes before the anticipated arrival at the destination airport, it started snowing. He descended the airplane to get out of the snow, but the airplane encountered a temperature inversion, and because snow was accumulating on the wings, the pilot chose to divert to the closest airport. He approached the runway at a higher-than-normal speed, and the airplane ballooned during touchdown and then drifted off the side of the runway. He attempted a go-around, but the airplane could not gain enough airspeed to become airborne, and it subsequently impacted two trucks, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot's improper landing flare resulted in the airplane ballooning upon landing and led to his subsequent loss of directional control. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Ground vehicle-Contributed to outcome