Piper PA-30 accident near Snow Hill, Maryland, June 5, 1982
On June 5, 1982 at about 1:52 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N8193Y, was destroyed in an accident near Snow Hill, Maryland (Salisbury-Wicomico airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- June 5, 1982 · about 1:52 pm local time
- Place
- Snow Hill, Maryland · Salisbury-Wicomico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N8193Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-1310
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT/OWNER AND ANOTHER OCCUPANT WITH A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE AND AN INSTRUMENT RATING TOOK OFF ON A IFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE WEATHER AT THE DEPARTURE POINT AND DESTINATION WAS CHARACTERIZED BY LOW CEILINGS AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN FOG AND RAIN. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT HAD TROUBLE COMPLYING WITH ATC CLEARANCES AND DIRECTIONS. DURING ARRIVAL, THE PILOT APPROACHED THE OUTER MARKER FOR AN ILS IN SUCH A MANNER THAT REQUIRED A PROCEDURE TURN. AFTER REPORTING OUTBOUND FROM THE OUTER MARKER, THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED (BY APPROACH CONTROL) TO CONTACT SALISBURY RADIO ON ANOTHER FREQUENCY. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 6 MI SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT WHILE IN A NOSE LOW LEFT BANK. NO PREIMPACT FAILURES WERE FOUND DURING AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,608 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Caldwell NJ at 8:21 am
- Destination: Salisbury MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 5,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 153°F (67°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from SBY, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.