Piper PA-28 accident near Cumberland, Maryland, July 30, 1989
On July 30, 1989 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N38370, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cumberland, Maryland. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO TAKEOFF IN DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. RELATED FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, AND HIS LACK OF AN INSTRUMENT RATING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1989 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Cumberland, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N38370 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7725278
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD DEPARTED THE ARPT ON THE SECOND LEG OF A X-COUNTRY FLT, WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN A WX BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND INTENDED TO CALL FLT WATCH ONCE AIRBORNE. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER DEPARTURE, A THUNDERSTORM WAS ENCOUNTERED AND HE INITIATED A 180 DEG TURN BACK TO THE ARPT. THE PLT STATED THAT DUE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE, HE ELECTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A ROAD. WHEN THE ACFT WAS ON FINAL APCH TO LAND, A TRUCK AND TRAILER PULLED OUT ON THE ROAD AND THE PLT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND. HE REPORTED THAT DURING THE GO-AROUND, ANOTHER DOWNDRAFT WAS EXPERIENCED AND HE VEERED THE ACFT TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE TRUCK. THE ACFT THEN HIT AN OVERPASS AND DESCENDED TO THE ROAD BELOW. OTHER LOCAL PLTS STATED THERE WAS NO TURBULENCE IN THE AREA THAT DAY, BUT THE WEATHER WAS DETERIORATING RAPIDLY.
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: 194 hours in all; 166 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 194 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CBE Cumberland MD at 6:28 pm
- Destination: MGW Morgantown WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:20 pm from CBE, 8 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.