Piper PA-34-200T accident near Middle River, Maryland, March 19, 1995
On March 19, 1995 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N79TH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middle River, Maryland (Martin State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the nosegear collapsing. The pilot's improper landing flare was a factor in the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1995 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Middle River, Maryland · Martin State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N79TH · registry record · serial 34-7970157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATE HE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 15 WHEN THE AIRPLANE PORPOISED AND TOUCHED DOWN HARD, AND THE NOSEGEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,703 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 142 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 1,638 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,270 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1995; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-EB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GSO Greensboro NC at 5:30 pm
- Destination: MTN Baltimore MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 15, 6,996 ft by 180 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from MTN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N79TH 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.