# NTSB ATL82DA130: Piper PA-28-161, N3563W, Mitchellville, MD, May 14, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: May 13, 1982, 21:00 local (May 14, 1982, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Mitchellville, MD
- Coordinates: 38.949733, -76.730728 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9497&lon=-76.7307&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 13, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71731
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82DA130
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71731/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA130

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lowering of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - other psychological condition, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON A DARK NIGHT TO AN AIRPORT THAT HE HAD NEVER LANDED AT BEFORE. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE BECAME DISORIENTED AND CALLED A FLIGHT SERVICE STATION FOR HELP. A MILITARY HELICOPTER PILOT RENDEZVOUSED WITH THE LOST PILOT AND PROVIDED VECTORS TO THE DESTINATION. POWER LINES WERE LOCATED NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. MOST OF THE PILOTS THAT WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPORT PLANNED THEIR APPROACHES TO GO INSIDE THE POWER LINES. HOWEVER, THE PILOT OF N3563W APPROACHED OVER THE LINES WHICH NECESSITATED A HIGH PATTERN. ALSO, THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER HIS EN ROUTE EXPERIENCE, HE FORGOT TO LOWER HIS FLAPS. WHILE LANDING, HE FLOATED AND TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 500 TO 700 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END. WITNESSES HEARD THE BRAKES SQUEALING AS THE PILOT CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY. AFTER DEPARTING THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED DOWN A GRADE AND INTO A GULLY AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3563W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8016192
- Airframe hours: 1285
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Marvin Renich
- Registered owner: Douglas & Maryanne Geffert
- Departed: FREDERICK, MD
- Destination: MITCHELLVILLE, MD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: W00, Freeway, runway 18, 2,150 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 73 total, 53 in this make and model, 43 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 158 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BWI, 15 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820513018839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820513018839A), May 13, 1982: Piper PA28161, Mitchellville, MD, Substantial damage. Pilot became disorientated, requested assistance to locate airport. Landed long and aircraft ran off runway.

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.

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