Christen Industries A-1 accident near Middle River, Maryland, September 23, 1990
On September 23, 1990 at about 6:03 pm local time, a Christen Industries A-1, registered N6082P, was destroyed in an accident near Middle River, Maryland (Martin State airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DELAYED HIS RECOVERY FROM AN INTENTIONAL SPIN MANUEVER UNTIL THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1990 · about 6:03 pm local time
- Place
- Middle River, Maryland · Martin State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries A-1
- Registration
- N6082P · registry record · serial 5165
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANUEVERS AS PART OF AN AIRSHOW. AFTER CONDUCTING SEVERAL MANUEVERS, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A DESCENT AND BEGAN TO SPIN. THE AIRPLANE SPUN FOUR TIMES, THEN IT STRUCK THE GROUND AS THE PILOT WAS LEVELING FROM THE DESCENT. THE ENGINE SOUNDS INCREASED JUST BEFORE IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTN at 5:50 pm
- Destination: MTN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:10 pm from MTN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.