# NTSB ATL82DA193: Piper PA-32-300, N4371X, Westminster, MD, July 10, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: July 10, 1982, 09:06 local (13:06 UTC)
- Place: Westminster, MD
- Coordinates: 39.57059, -77.000175 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5706&lon=-77.0002&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73023
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82DA193
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73023/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA193

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - displaced threshold (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - downhill (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN UNSCHEDULED STOP AT A UNFAMILIAR AIRPORT TO CHECK THE EN ROUTE WEATHER. HE CIRCLED THE AIRPORT AND THOUGHT THE WIND INDICATED FAVORED RUNWAY 31, BUT LATER, HE FOUND THAT THE WIND WAS CALM. NO RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE AIRPORT UNICOM. RUNWAY 31 SLOPED DOWNHILL AND HAD A 280 FT DISPLACED THRESHOLD. THE PILOT WAS UNAWARE THAT ONLY 1550 FT OF RUNWAY WAS AVAILABLE SINCE HIS SECTIONAL CHART INDICATED THAT IT WAS 1800 FT LONG. ALSO, HE WAS UNAWARE THAT MOST PILOTS USED RUNWAY 13 WHEN POSSIBLE TO AVOID THE DOWNSLOPE ON RUNWAY 31. DURING THE LANDING, HE TOUCHED DOWN NEAR MIDFIELD. HE RECOGNIZED THEN THAT THERE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT RUNWAY TO STOP, BUT RAISED THE FLAPS AND BRAKED HARD, RATHER THEN GO AROUND, BECAUSE OF TREES BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY. DESPITE HEAVY BRAKING, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4371X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4371X), registered now, S/N 32-7640016, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7640016
- Airframe hours: 1172
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1AS 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: A. Grah Schneider
- Registered owner: A. Grah Schneider
- Departed: SOMERSET, NJ
- Destination: W93, ORANGE COUNTY, VA
- Airport: 2W2, Clearview Airpark, runway 31, 1,550 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 417 total, 74 in this make and model, 303 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 176 °F

## 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 19820710027199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820710027199A), Jul 10, 1982: Piper PA32300, Westminster, MD, Substantial damage. Landed halfway down short downhill runway and ran off the departure end. Landed at strange airport due to weather.

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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