Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Hagerstown, Maryland, February 15, 1982
On February 15, 1982 at about 11:44 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N3893T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hagerstown, Maryland (Washington Cty. Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- February 15, 1982 · about 11:44 am local time
- Place
- Hagerstown, Maryland · Washington Cty. Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3893T · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30222
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE AN ERRATIC VISUAL APPROACH AFTER PERFORMING AN ILS APPROACH TO WITHIN 2 MILES OF THE RUNWAY. SHE VARIED HER FLIGHT PATH FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND WAS CORRECTED VERBALLY BY THE MORE EXPERIENCED CO-PILOT. THE FLARE WAS STARTED TOO HIGH AND THE CO-PILOT ADDED POWER TO CUSHION THE LANDING. AFTER LANDING THE AIRCRAFT VEERED SHARPLY AND TURNED 180 DEGREES BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A SNOWBANK. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED FROM A COMBINATION OF SIDE LOADING AND HITTING THE SNOW.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,561 hours in all; 317 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1,269 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,304 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W32 Clinton MD at 10:30 am
- Destination: W32 Clinton MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 5,450 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 109°F (43°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 am from HGR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.