# NTSB BFO87FA020: Piper PA-38-112, N2459F, Mount Airy, MD, February 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 8, 1987, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Mount Airy, MD
- Coordinates: 39.37025, -77.150413 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3702&lon=-77.1504&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11279
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO87FA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11279/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO87FA020

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT SIMULATED AN ENGINE OUT EMERGENCY BY RETARDING THE THROTTLE. THE STUDENT, WHO HAD NOT SOLOED, BECAME ENGROSSED IN HANDLING THE EMERGENCY. THE INSTRUCTOR KEPT HIS HAND ON THE THROTTLE THROUGHOUT THE PRACTICE MANEUVER. WHEN HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE ABRUPTLY, THE STUDENT LOOKED UP TO SEE THE AIRCRAFT HEADING TOWARDS A ROW OF TREES. MOMENTS LATER, THEY IMPACTED THE GROUND, COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND TREES. INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO BE SLIGHTLY OVER THE AUTHORIZED GROSS WEIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2459F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-79A0458
- Airframe hours: 1649
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Frederdick Aviation
- Registered owner: Philip C. Baridon
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 1987, 48 hours before
- Departed: FDK, FREDERICK, MD

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 565 total, 150 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BWI, 26 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 19870208017509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870208017509A), Feb 8, 1987: Piper PA38112, Mount Airy, MD, Destroyed. Simulated engine out. Closed throttle. Carried out too low. CFI added power but hit ground and fence. Over gross.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.