# Accident 20110826022069A: Piper PA-44-180, Gaithersburg, MD, August 26, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 26, 2011, 07:00 local time
- Place: Gaithersburg, MD
- Airport: Montgomery County Airpark
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1683° N, 77.1658° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1683&lon=-77.1658&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3020M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3020M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-44-180 (registry code 7104402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 570 total, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11CA486](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA486) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110826022069A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THIS ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED TO THIS FSDO OFFICE. DURING AN INSPECTION OF   THIS FLIGHT SCHOOL MAINTENANCE FACILITY, THIS AIRCRAFT WAS DISCOVERED IN THE REAR OF THE HANGAR WITH A DAMAGED RIGHT WING. THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS GONE FROM THE RIGHT WING. AS I STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS I FOUND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.  PILOT AND INSTRUCTOR WHERE TAXIING TO ACTIVE RUNWAY. BOTH WHERE INATTENTIVE WHILE TAXIING AND THE AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED TO LEAVE THE TAXIWAY TO THE RIGHT AND GO DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS AND THE RIGHT GEAR LINK  BROKE AND THE RIGHT GEAR COLLAPSED. THE RIGHT WING MAIN SPAR WAS BENT. THE RIGHT PROP STRUCK THE GROUND AND WAS DAMAGED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA11CA486](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA486), Aug 26, 2011: Piper PA-44-180 (N3020M), Gaithersburg, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to continue taxiing with restricted windshield visibility.

## Other reports on N3020M (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20211022017619I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211022017619I), Oct 22, 2021: Piper PA-44-180 (N3020M), Gaithersburg, MD, Minor damage. During a multiengine training flight, the student, who is a rated asel commercial pilot, reported a normal traffic pattern at approach. The pilot stated the he…
- [Accident 20170608006929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170608006929A), Jun 8, 2017: Piper PA-44-180 (N3020M), Gaithersburg, MD, Substantial damage. During landing roll on training flight the pilot in command noticed an aburpt change in the landing gear. At first he thought it was a blown tire and reported…
- [Incident 19930724032069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930724032069I), Jul 24, 1993: Piper PA44180 (N3020M), San Diego, CA, Minor damage. Landed with right main gear retracted. Found upper main landing gear door retract rod end bolt installed incorrectly

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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