Piper PA-28-181 accident near Laurel, Maryland, April 23, 1989
On April 23, 1989 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N1789H, was destroyed in an accident near Laurel, Maryland (Suburban airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE ATTEMPTED SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1989 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Laurel, Maryland · Suburban
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N1789H · no longer on the register · serial 28-7790341
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ACCELERATE AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE DURING THE SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF. THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED AND THE ACFT TRAVELED INTO A WOODED AREA OFF THE END OF THE RWY. AFTER THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS EVACUATED THE ACFT, A SMALL FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE AREA. UNABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH HAND HELD EXTINGUISHERS, THE FIRE DESTROYED THE ACFT. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE FAILED TO REVEAL ANY FAILURES/MALFUNCTIONS WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ACFT FROM ACCELERATING PROPERLY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 258 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,257 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 13, 1989; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,165 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from BWI, 7 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.