# NTSB BFO91FA008: Piper PA-28-181, N4321M, Elkton, MD, October 30, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 30, 1990, 13:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Elkton, MD
- Coordinates: 39.600181, -75.819267 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6002&lon=-75.8193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11621
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO91FA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11621/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91FA008

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT LANDED ON RUNWAY 35, BACK TAXIED, AND THEN TOOK OFF.  ACCORDING TO HIM, DURING CLIMBOUT AT ABOUT 200' MSL, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER.  HE ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD, BUT THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND STRUCK THE GROUND ABOUT 300' BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY.  AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4321M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4321M-1994-07-13), registration cancelled 1994-07-13, S/N 288490011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8490011
- Airframe hours: 3438
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Garden State Flying Service
- Registered owner: Garden State Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 25, 1990, 14 hours before
- Departed: 2N0
- Destination: 19N, BERLIN, NJ
- Airport: 2N0, Cecil County, runway 35, 2,600 × 38 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 8 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ILG, 15 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 19901030047469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901030047469A), Oct 30, 1990: Piper PA28181, Elkton, MD, Destroyed. Crashed shortly after departure.

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.