Piper PA-38-112 accident near Laurel, Maryland, September 30, 1991
On September 30, 1991 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2513N, was involved in an accident near Laurel, Maryland (Suburban airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1991 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Laurel, Maryland · Suburban · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2513N · registry record · serial 38-790883
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS ON ITS FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY. THE PREFLIGHT WAS COMPLETED WHICH INCLUDED DRAINING THE FUEL SUMPS FOR CONTAMINATIONS. THE PRETAKEOFF ENGINE RUNUP WAS SATISFACTORY. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THEY DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 3 AND AS THEY WERE CLIMBING THROUGH 200 FEET MSL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD, ABOUT A HALF MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE AND A UTILITY POLE DURING THE APPROACH TO THE FIELD, DAMAGING THE WINGS. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE OF 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 430 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 152 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 356 as pilot in command; 143 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,425 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 13, 1991; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Suburban Air Service INC.
The flight
- Departed from: W18 at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,170 ft by 29 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from BWI, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.