Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Hancock, Maryland, May 17, 1993
On May 17, 1993 at about 2:04 am local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N8247G, was destroyed in an accident near Hancock, Maryland. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, HIS INITIATION OF VFR FLT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE FOG, RAIN, THE PILOT'S SELF INDUCED PRESSURE, AND HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1993 · about 2:04 am local time
- Place
- Hancock, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N8247G · registry record · serial 28R-8018095
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL OF IFR WEATHER ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. A WITNESS, WHO HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A FLIGHT, SAID THE PILOT INSISTED THAT HE HAD TO RETURN HOME THAT EVENING. THE WITNESS STATED THAT HEAVY RAIN WAS FALLING. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS IN CONTACT WITH CLEVELAND AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER, WHEN HE WAS PROVIDED WITH A TRANSPONDER CODE, WHICH WAS NEVER RECEIVED. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED 3 DAYS LATER IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA. DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE, THE ENGINE, WINGS, ELEVATOR AND LANDING GEAR SEPARATED. BOTH PORPELLER BLADES ALSO SEPARATED AND REVEALED EVIDENCE OF ROTATION. A WITNESS CLOSE TO THE SITE REPORTED HEARING A LOW FLYING AIRPLANE IN THE HEAVY RAIN.
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: 104 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 91 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,984 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 1993; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Indianapolis Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FDK Frederick MD at 1:30 am
- Destination: Indianapolis IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from HGR, 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.