Piper PA-28-140B accident near Perry Hall, Maryland, June 22, 1985
On June 22, 1985 at about 6:12 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140B, registered N98079, was substantially damaged in an accident near Perry Hall, Maryland. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people 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
- June 22, 1985 · about 6:12 pm local time
- Place
- Perry Hall, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140B · all PA-28-140Bs on the register
- Registration
- N98079 · no longer on the register · serial 28-26062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON JUNE 22, 1985 THE PLT AND THREE PASSENGERS BOARDED N98079. AFTER TAXING TO RWY 27 (WHICH HAS A ONE DEGREE UPGRADE), THE ACFT BEGAN AN EXTENDED GROUND ROLL WITH A LEFT-QUARTERING TAILWIND OF APPROXIMATELY EIGHT KNOTS. AT THIS TIME, THE ACFT WAS LOADED ABOUT 49 POUNDS FROM GROSS WEIGHT AND THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED 1529 HOURS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL. FOLLOWING ROTATION, THE ACFT MAINTAINED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AND INITIATED A LEFT BANK. THE ACFT THEN CLIMBED ANOUT 200 FEET, BEFORE THE NOSE AND LEFT WING RAISED ABRUPTLY AND THE RIGHT WING LOWERED. THE ACFT THEN DISAPPEARED BELOW THE TREES NEAR THE END OF THE RWY 27. THE ACFT CAME TO REST IN THE BACKYARD OF A RESIDENCE AT 5022 EAST JOPPA ROAD, PERRY HALL, MD. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCIES, ALTHOUGH THE SPARK PLUGS APPEARED WORN. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, ABOUT 1917 FEET OF RWY WAS REQUIRED TO CLEAR A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE, USING A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 1500 FEET. RWY 27 IS 2200 FEET IN LENGTH, WITH TREES ABOUT 50 FEET IN HEIGHT AT THE DEPARTURE END.
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: 100 hours in all; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,410 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1984; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mickey Mouse Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: 1W2 Perry Hall MD at 6:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from MTN, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.