# NTSB BFO86LA043: Piper 601P, N9756Q, Indian Head, MD, August 21, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1986, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Indian Head, MD
- Coordinates: 38.589145, -77.150833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5891&lon=-77.1508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11255
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO86LA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11255/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO86LA043

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - failure,total (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE OWNER OF THE AEROSTAR 601P WAS FLYING HIS FAMILY AND A FRIEND FROM BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS TO INDIAN HEAD, MARYLAND. AFTER MONITORING THE DCA ATIS HE ELECTED TO MAKE AN ILS TO FORT BELVOIR, VIRGINIA, BREAK OFF THE MISSED APPROACH AND PROCEED VFR OVER TO MARYLAND AIRPORT FOR A LANDING. HE STATED THAT HE SAW THE RUNWAY FROM A RIGHT BASE POSITION AND TURNED ONTO FINAL FOR RUNWAY 17. AFTER FLARING FOR LANDING THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED AS DID THE NOSE GEAR AS THE AIRCRAFT SLID DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST ABOUT 1000 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9756Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9756Q-2011-01-07), registration cancelled 2011-01-07, S/N 61P-0374-121 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER 601P
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601p) (registry code 8360608) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 61P-0374-121
- Airframe hours: 1539
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-S1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Allen G. Burgess
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 1986, 54 hours before
- Departed: BED, BEDFORD, MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 2W5, Maryland Airport, runway 17, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,485 total, 1,342 in this make and model, 3,310 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAA, 10 nm away

## Other investigations on N9756Q (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC99LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA228), Aug 8, 1999: Piper PA-601P (N9756Q), West Dover, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: was the diverted attention of the pilot, which resulted in his failure to maintain airspeed, and his failure to lower the landing gear prior to landing.

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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