IAD96LA108

Factual narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 7, 1996, at about 1840 eastern standard time, a Piper J3C-65, N87910, impacted the ground during an attempted touch and go landing at Dorchester Airport in Cambridge, Maryland. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Cambridge, Maryland, at 1830 eastern standard time. The pilot stated that during a touch and go landing on runway 34 a gust of wind veered the airplane to the right. He stated that he thought the airplane ground looped and he attempted to recover it. During his attempt to recover the airplane, he stated that he hit a ditch and small brush along the right side of the runway. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Weather at the accident airport was not recorded. The weather recorded at Wicomico County Regional Airport in Salisbury, Maryland, which is to the east/southeast at 27 miles was: Temperature-86 degrees Fahrenheit; Temperature Dewpoint- 68 degrees Fahrenheit; Wind-230 degrees at 8 knots and the visibility was 10 miles. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who went on site of the accident stated that the pilot was attempting to land on runway 34 which is 4004 feet long and 75 feet wide. The FAA inspector stated that the airplane traveled 500 feet down the runway and came to rest approximately 50 feet to the right in a ditch. The FAA Inspector stated that the flight controls checked for continuity and no anomalies could be found with the engine. The pilot stated that he was doing a touch-and-go landing on runway 34 when a gust of wind veered the airplane to the right. The airplane ground looped, and during his attempt to recover, the airplane went off the right side of the runway and into a ditch. The winds were not recorded at the airport but the local area and airports in the vicinity showed winds recorded from the southwest at approximately 10 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12