Socata TB9 accident near Fort Meade, Maryland, September 17, 2019
On September 17, 2019 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1990 Socata TB9, registered N2824R, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Fort Meade, Maryland (Tipton airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the carburetor intake scat tubing, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 2019 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Meade, Maryland · Tipton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB9 C, built 1990 · all TB9s on the register
- Registration
- N2824R · no longer on the register · serial 1153
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern when the engine began to lose power. The flight instructor took control and maneuvered the airplane toward the runway, and the airplane descended into trees, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. Examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. An examination of the airframe components revealed that the carburetor air intake scat tubing was crushed on the airframe side of the hose. The airframe scat tubing fiberglass connection side was also found crushed. Examination of the tubing found that the interior of the scat tubing had collapsed. It is likely that the collapsed scat tubing restricted the air entering the carburetor, resulting in the partial loss of engine power. No debris was found within the carburetor.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › Air intake › Failure
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 990 hours in all; 980 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Flight time: 12 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,080 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 2019; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,337 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FME Fort Meade(Odenton) MD at 10:00 pm
- Destination: FME Fort Meade(Odenton) MD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 10, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 9:42 pm from FME, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on March 10, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Record FAA Correspondence | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.