Piper PA-28-161 accident near Mitchellville, Maryland, May 14, 1982
On May 14, 1982 at about 1:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N3563W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mitchellville, Maryland (Freeway airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1982 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Mitchellville, Maryland · Freeway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N3563W · no longer on the register · serial 28-8016192
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON A DARK NIGHT TO AN AIRPORT THAT HE HAD NEVER LANDED AT BEFORE. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE BECAME DISORIENTED AND CALLED A FLIGHT SERVICE STATION FOR HELP. A MILITARY HELICOPTER PILOT RENDEZVOUSED WITH THE LOST PILOT AND PROVIDED VECTORS TO THE DESTINATION. POWER LINES WERE LOCATED NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. MOST OF THE PILOTS THAT WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPORT PLANNED THEIR APPROACHES TO GO INSIDE THE POWER LINES. HOWEVER, THE PILOT OF N3563W APPROACHED OVER THE LINES WHICH NECESSITATED A HIGH PATTERN. ALSO, THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER HIS EN ROUTE EXPERIENCE, HE FORGOT TO LOWER HIS FLAPS. WHILE LANDING, HE FLOATED AND TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 500 TO 700 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END. WITNESSES HEARD THE BRAKES SQUEALING AS THE PILOT CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY. AFTER DEPARTING THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED DOWN A GRADE AND INTO A GULLY AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 73 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,285 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 234 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Frederick MD at 7:45 pm
- Destination: Mitchellville MD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 2,150 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from BWI, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.