# NTSB BFO90FA064: Piper PA-28-200, N32975, Baltimore, MD, July 19, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 19, 1990, 17:23 local (21:23 UTC)
- Place: Baltimore, MD
- Coordinates: 39.32933, -76.429885 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3293&lon=-76.4299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 6, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11552
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90FA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11552/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90FA064

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - electrical system - undetermined
  - annunciator panel light(s) - failure,partial
- Loss of engine power, approach
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT WAS INBOUND TO MTN WHEN ELECTRICAL POWER OCCURRED AND COMMUNICATION WITH ATC WAS LOST.  THE PILOT PROCEEDED TO MTN, ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, TO LAND ON RUNWAY 14. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE HE WAS ON BASE LEG AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE RUNWAY.  A PAX SAID THE PILOT TURNED LEFT TO AVOID ANOTHER JUST BEFORE THE ENGINE LOST POWER.  HE SAID DURING THE TURN THE AIRPLANE SHAKED.  ATC PERSONNEL AT MTN SAID THEY FIRST NOTICED THE AIRPLANE WHEN IT WAS ON BASE LEG, BUT ANOTHER AIRPLANE HAD BEEN CLEARED TO LAND, WHOSE PILOT WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO BREAK OFF THE APPROACH.  ATC THEN SAW THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE GO THROUGH THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE, TURN LEFT, AND DESCEND TO THE GROUND.  THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE ALTERNATOR BELT FAILED, ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT DETERMINED IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED PRE OR POST IMPACT.  THE ALTERNATOR WAS DAMAGED AND WAS NOT TESTED.  THE ALTERNATOR WARNING CIRCUITRY FOR THE ANNUNCIATOR PANEL WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE, WHICH DISABLED THE WARNING.  MECHANICAL EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32975](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32975-1992-05-15), registration cancelled 1992-05-15, S/N 28R7535102 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7535102
- Airframe hours: 1956
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ronald Marien
- Registered owner: Ronald Marien
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 1990, 33 hours before
- Departed: GDM, GARDNER, MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MTN, Martin State, runway 14, 6,996 × 180 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 1,078 total, 1,022 in this make and model, 1,004 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MTN, 1 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 19900719027499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900719027499A), Jul 19, 1990: Piper PA28R200, Baltimore, MD, Destroyed. Lost electric power. Tried NORDO landing at mtn overshot turn to runway. Tried tight circle to realign. Stalled.

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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