- Date
- March 28, 1982, 14:13 local (19:13 UTC)
- Place
- Westminster, MD
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2490TPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 28, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820328026759A
- Case key
- 73022
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft crashed after takeoff from a 2930 ft runway with four occupants on board. The aircraft weight was not known, but was estimated to be 2334 lbs during takeoff. There was a light wind from the west and the temperature was 42 degrees fahrenheit. Witnesses who observed the takeoff roll stated that the engine sounded normal, but the aircraft did not become airborne until 2200 to 2700 ft down the runway. Reportedly, the aircraft climbed no higher than 100 to 150 ft AGL, then disappeared from their view about a mile from the runway. A pilot that was landing in another plane observed the aircraft turn left about 80 degrees during a low and slow departure. The aircraft struck trees about 1.5 miles from the end of the runway and left of its centerline. An examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact malfunction or failure. Relatives and acquaintances of the pilot could not recall the pilot previously operating the aircraft with four adults on board.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2490T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7225077
- Airframe hours
- 1,961
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E3D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Francis L Fenwick
- Registered owner
- Francis L Fenwick
- Departed
- Westminster, MD
- Destination
- Gaithersburg, MD
- Airport
- W-54 · Carroll County, runway 34, 2,930 × 40 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 98 total · 25 in this make and model · 60 as pilot in command · 23 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Temperature
- 108 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.