Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Cambridge, Maryland, June 18, 1983
On June 18, 1983 at about 11:45 am local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N81410, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cambridge, Maryland (Horn Point airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- June 18, 1983 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Cambridge, Maryland · Horn Point · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N81410 · registry record · serial 32R-8229034
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER/STUDENT PLT & HIS INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WERE ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLT & PROCEED TO AN ARPT WITH A WET GRASS RWY TO PRACTICE LANDINGS. THE RWY WAS 2200 FT LONG & HAD 50 TO 60 FT TREES AT THE APCH END THAT HAD BEEN CUT TO APRX 25 FT AGL. THE 1ST APCH (FOR A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING) WAS HIGH, SO A GO-AROUND WAS MADE. THE 2ND APCH WAS BETTER, BUT THE STUDENT STILL TOUCHED DOWN APRX 1050 FT DOWN THE RWY. AT THAT POINT, THE CFI TOLD THE STUDENT TO MAKE A FULL STOP LANDING RATHER THAN A TOUCH-AND-GO. THE STUDENT APPLIED BRAKES, BUT FELT LITTLE REDUCTION IN GROUND SPEED. THE CFI THEN TOOK CONTROL & APPLIED HARD BRAKING. HE STARTED S-TURNS BUT COULD NOT STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY. EVENTUALLY, THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RWY IN A SKID, HIT A DITCH & THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE BRAKES WAS FOUND. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT HANDBOOK, 1650 FT WAS REQUIRED TO STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN LANDING OVER A 50 FT OBSTACLE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 6,000 as pilot in command; 10 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 618 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1983; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGE Cambridge MD at 11:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,285 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.