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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 19, 1990 · Piper PA-28-200 · N32975

Baltimore, MD

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 19, 1990
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (2 serious injuries, 2 minor injuries)
Location
Baltimore, MD
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-200
Tail Number
N32975
Operator
Ronald Marien
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO90FA064

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.

NTSB Probable Cause

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

Full Narrative

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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:23 EDT
Nearest AirportMartin State (0nm NNE)
Runway14
Runway Length6996 ft
Runway Width180 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-200
Tail NumberN32975
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRonald Marien
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C1C · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (2 serious injuries, 2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 8 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data