ATL82FA087

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-140 · Westminster, MD · March 28, 1982

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
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.

In flight collision with objectTakeoff - initial climb
Aircraft weight and balance - exceededPilot in commandFactor
Airspeed - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in commandCause

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.