Rockwell 112A accident near Chestertown, Maryland, March 3, 1983
On March 3, 1983 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Rockwell 112A, registered N1461J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chestertown, Maryland (Pondview airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- March 3, 1983 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chestertown, Maryland · Pondview · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 112A
- Registration
- N1461J · registry record · serial 461
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY DURING TAKEOFF AND STRUCK AN OLD STANCHION USED FOR RUNWAY LIGHTS. THE PILOT WAS UNSURE OF THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE AND ELECTED TO RE-LAND THE AIRCRAFT. THE LANDING GEAR HAD ALREADY BEEN RAISED, SO THE LANDING WAS GEAR-UP. THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE OCCUPANTS WERE ININJURED. THE RUNWAY WAS SOD AND SOFT FROM RAIN. THE TAKEOFF HAD BEEN STARTED ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE 3300 FOOT RUNWAY TO AVIOD A MUDDY AREA OF THE STRIP. ANTICIPATING SOME TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD THE PILOT RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR EARLY. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN MODIFIED WITH A 300 HP ENGINE (MACHEN CONVERSION) IN PLACE OF THE 200 HP STANDARD ENGINE.
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: 1,088 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 911 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,370 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 1983; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: N88 Doylestown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36R, 3,300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.