# NTSB NYC03LA108: Piper PA-28R-200, N1514X, Gaithersburg, MD, May 15, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 2003, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Gaithersburg, MD - Coordinates: 39.168334, -77.165832 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1683&lon=-77.1658&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-07 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57006 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57006/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA108 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed, resulting in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis While on the final approach leg of a simulated forced landing, the airspeed began to decrease to 70 mph, and the pilot added power. About 1/4-mile short of the runway, the airspeed decreased to 60 mph, "presumably because of loss of 10 knot headwind," and the airplane stalled. The airplane descended into a grass field short of the runway, and came to rest upright. The winds recorded at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, were from 040 degrees at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 2003, at 1215 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N1514X, was substantially damaged while landing at the Montgomery County Airpark, Gaithersburg, Maryland. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he was conducting touch and go's to runway 14, a 4,201-foot long, 75-foot wide asphalt runway. On the seventh landing, the pilot elected to perform a simulated power-off, "gliding approach," to the runway. While on the downwind leg, abeam the approach end of the runway, the pilot reduced the throttle to 1,000 rpm's, performed the landing checklist, and added one notch of flaps. He then turned on to the base leg at an airspeed of 80 mph. As the turn on to the final approach leg was made, at an altitude of 350 feet agl, the airspeed began to decrease to 70 mph, and the pilot added power. About 1/4-mile short of the runway, the airspeed decreased to 60 mph, "presumably because of loss of 10 knot headwind," and the airplane stalled. The airplane descended into a grass field short of the runway, and came to rest upright. The winds recorded at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, were from 040 degrees at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1514X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1514X), registered now, S/N 28R-7535305, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-C1C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-c1c) (registry code 41832, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7535305 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Octopus Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GAI, Gaithersburg, MD - Destination: GAI, Gaithersburg, MD - Airport: GAI, Montgomery County Airpark, runway 14, 4,201 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 14, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 360 total, 19 in this make and model, 295 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: FDK, 18 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 20030515009059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030515009059A), May 15, 2003: Piper PA28R200, Gaithersburg, MD, Substantial damage. (-23) Met with Mr. Moore 2:30 pm at gai. Aircraft had been moved from spot where it stopped so that the runway could be used. Aircraft was landing runway 14.… 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.