# NTSB BFO89FA065: Piper PA-28R-201T, N64MB, College Park, MD, July 31, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 1989, 01:08 local (05:08 UTC) - Place: College Park, MD - Coordinates: 38.990509, -76.930313 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9905&lon=-76.9303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 22, 1991 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 11469 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89FA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11469/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89FA065 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND HIS EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE STABILATORS AND WINGS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES, HIS LACK OF RECENT INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, EXCESSIVE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT ALLOWED BY THE PILOT, DARK NIGHT, AND ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft weight and balance - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - flight control,stabilator - overload - flight control,stabilator - separation - wing - overload - wing - separation - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PLT & PASSENGERS WERE RETURNING FROM AN EVENING X-COUNTRY FLT WITH THE FLT OPERATING IN IMC, FORECASTED TO CONTAIN RAIN SHOWERS & THUNDERSTORMS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED AFTER AN IN-FLT BREAKUP. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE HORIZONTAL STABILATOR, THEN THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF BOTH WINGS HAD FAILED IN A DOWN & AFT DIRECTION. THE STABILATOR AND PORTIONS OF THE WINGS WERE FOUND ABOUT 1200' FROM THE FUSELAGE. RADAR DATA INDICATED THE ACFT HAD ENTERED AN INCREASING LEFT DESCENDING TURN, FOLLOWED BY A RAPID DESCENT RATE JUST BEFORE GROUND IMPACT. THE ACFT'S GROSS WEIGHT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 3000 LBS. ITS MAXIMUM CERTIFIED GROSS WEIGHT WAS 2900 LBS. A REVIEW OF THE PLT'S LOG INDICATED THAT HE HAD OBTAINED ONE HOUR OF INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TIME & ONE INSTRUMENT APPROACH IN THE PREVIOUS SIX MONTHS. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64MB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64MB-1990-07-05), registration cancelled 1990-07-05, S/N 28R7803323 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201T (PA-28R-201) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7803323 - Airframe hours: 1433 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TIO-360-FB 201 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Archer Assoc. Inc, doing business as Same - Registered owner: Archer Assoc. Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1989, 84 hours before - Departed: AIY, ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Destination: W10, MANASSAS, VA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 274 total, 137 in this make and model, 192 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BWI, 12 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 19890731025589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890731025589A), Jul 31, 1989: Piper PA28R201T, College Park, MD, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Lost control area thunderstorms. Spiral dive and pull up caused breakup. Plane over gross. Pilot not current IFR. 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.