Piper PA-32-260 accident near Bradshaw, Maryland, July 29, 1989
On July 29, 1989 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3663W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bradshaw, Maryland. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1989 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bradshaw, Maryland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3663W · no longer on the register · serial 32-540
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 700 FT MSL ON TAKEOFF CLIMB THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING. THE ACFT STRUCK A POWER LINE DURING THE LANDING APCH. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL BETWEEN THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE AND ENGINE. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED FOR THE LEFT MAIN TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR TESTED SATISFACTORY FOR THAT POSITION. THE FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCH WAS OFF. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SYSTEM VENT OBSTRUCTION OR FUEL COMPONENT MALFUNCTION.
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: 181 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 154 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,258 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1989; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1W2 Baltimore MD at 3:00 pm
- Destination: WWD Wildwood MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from MTN, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.