Piper PA-28-161 accident near Chester, Maryland, June 16, 1990
On June 16, 1990 at about 11:24 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8167R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chester, Maryland (Castle Marina airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISIDENTIFICATION OF A ROAD FOR THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE SUNGLARE AND THE PILOT'S UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPORT, AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1990 · about 11:24 pm local time
- Place
- Chester, Maryland · Castle Marina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8167R · no longer on the register · serial 28-8016280
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MISTAKENLY LANDED ON A ROAD PARALLEL AND EAST OF RUNWAY ONE, WHERE HE INTENDED TO LAND. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A PARKED TRUCK DURING THE LANDING ROLL. HE SAID SUNLIGHT OBSTRUCTED HIS VISION DURING THE APPROACH. HE DIDN'T REALIZE THE MISTAKE UNTIL AFTER HE LANDED. THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT TO THE AIRPORT.
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: 700 hours in all; 600 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, February 23, 1990; 4,015 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D36 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rainbow Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: MIV Millville NJ at 12:30 pm
- Destination: OW6
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from BWI
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.
Other NTSB records under N8167R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.