# NTSB BFO90LA055: Piper PA-28-140, N3456K, Farmington, MD, June 9, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1990, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Farmington, MD
- Coordinates: 39.690193, -76.060173 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6902&lon=-76.0602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11599
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11599/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA055

## Probable cause

STUDENT PILOT'S MISJUDGED APPROACH TO LANDING AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, landing
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - berm

## Analysis

AFTER A BRIEF LOCAL FLIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT TO PRACTICE LANDINGS. THEY WERE TRAINING WITH SEVERAL OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS COVERED, INCLUDING THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR AND THE VERTICAL VELOCITY INDICATOR. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT THE STUDENT ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO GET TOO LOW AND SLOW DURING THE APPROACH. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT AS HE REACHED FORWARD TO TAKE OVER THE CONTROLS, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT AND SANK INTO THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED AN EMBANKMENT SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3456K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3456K-2012-09-12), registration cancelled 2012-09-12, S/N 28-23564, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-23564
- Airframe hours: 2072
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: David J. Colatriano
- Last inspection: Annual, January 26, 1990, 39 hours before
- Airport: IW6, Rising Sun, runway 20, 1,640 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 10,208 total, 155 in this make and model, 56 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: 1LG

## 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 19900609019469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900609019469A), Jun 9, 1990: Piper PA28140, Farmington, MD, Substantial damage. Landing with airspeed alt covered. Too low and slow. CFI tried takeover. Downdraft caused impact short of runway.

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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