Piper PA24 accident near Friendly, Maryland, October 10, 2020
On October 10, 2020 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1961 Piper PA24, registered N155TE, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Friendly, Maryland (Potomac Airfield). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an aborted landing and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2020 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Friendly, Maryland · Potomac Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24 250, built 1961 · all PA24s on the register
- Registration
- N155TE · no longer on the register · serial 24-2930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the instructional flight, the pilot performed maneuvers and procedures with the flight instructor to prepare the pilot for an instrument proficiency check. After completing the instructional portion of the flight, the pilot flew the airplane back to its home base. During the final approach to the runway, the airspeed decayed from the target speed of 85 mph to 80 mph, and the pilot lowered the nose to correct. During the landing flare, the descent rate increased, and the pilot added power to arrest the descent rate. The airplane bounced after touchdown, and the pilot attempted to abort the landing. The flight instructor “felt” the airplane settling towards the ground again and applied aft elevator to cushion what he thought would be a hard impact. The pilot said, “you are fighting me” and the flight instructor released the controls. The airplane then continued in a nose high pitch attitude off the left side of the runaway and impacted a parked airplane before eventually coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the outboard right wing, right aileron, and right wing spar. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incomplete action › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command; 1,720 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 27, 2019
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 353 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,839 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 2020; 3.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 2,839 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2W5 Indian Head MD at 2:50 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 2,600 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from ADW, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KADW 101456Z AUTO 21011KT 10SM FEW130 SCT190 19/15 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP189 T01910146 58006 FZRANO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on August 26, 2021. 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, 14 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot and Flight Instructor Statements | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Video Recording | video | 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.