# NTSB ATL83FIA03: Piper PA-32-300, N2203U, Ft. Washington, MD, July 17, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1983, 22:30 local (Jul 17, 1983, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Ft. Washington, MD
- Coordinates: 38.729248, -77.00064 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7292&lon=-77.0006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5956
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FIA03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5956/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FIA03

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - control interference - inadvertent, passenger (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL, THE ACFT WAS LANDED ON RWY 6 ON A DARK NIGHT. THE PLT STATED THAT THE AIRSPEED INDICATED 85 KTS AS THE ACFT WAS OVER THE RWY NUMBERS, AND AFTER A NORMAL LANDING, HE APPLIED BOTH BRAKES. HE REPORTED THAT AS SOON AS HE APPLIED BRAKES, THE ACFT BEGAN A RIGHT TURN AS IF THE BRAKES LOCKED. HE RELEASED THE BRAKES & APPLIED LEFT BRAKE & RUDDER, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE ACFT CONTINUED SKIDDING SIDEWAYS, WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY & COLLIDED WITH 2 PARKED ACFT; A PIPER PA-28, N4842L & A GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5, N5462L. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE SKID MARKS BEGAN APRX 1900 FT FROM THE APCH END OF THE 2580 FT RWY. MEASUREMENTS OF 3 SKID MARKS ON THE RWY REVEALED THAT THE PLANE SKIDDED 272 FT WHILE ANGLED UP TO 35 TO 40 DEG FROM THE RWY HEADING. AFTER DEPARTING THE RWY, THE PLANE SKIDDED ANOTHER 262 FT BEFORE STRIKING THE OTHER 2 ACFT. THE PASSENGER (A STUDENT PLT) IN THE COPILOT'S SEAT ADMITTED HE APPLIED THE BRAKES ON HIS SIDE WHEN HE SAW THAT THE ACFT WAS DEPARTING THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2203U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7940062
- Airframe hours: 854
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Dulles Aviation
- Registered owner: Mag Aire Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 30, 1983, 19 hours before
- Departed: WDL, WATERVILLE, MA
- Destination: W28, FT. WASHINGTON, MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: W28, P.G. Airpark, runway 6, 2,580 × 36 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 627 total, 31 in this make and model, 444 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DCA, 7 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 19830716035449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830716035449A), Jul 16, 1983: Piper PA32300, Ft Washington, MD, Substantial damage. Aircraft ran off runway and crashed into parked planes in tie down area. Poorly maintained brakes cause factor.

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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