Piper PA28R accident near Churchville, Maryland, July 25, 2023
On July 25, 2023 at about 11:06 pm local time, a 1974 Piper PA28R, registered N34PT, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Churchville, Maryland (Harford County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control that the pilot did not recover from.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2023 · about 11:06 pm local time
- Place
- Churchville, Maryland · Harford County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28R 200, built 1974 · all PA28Rs on the register
- Registration
- N34PT · registry record · serial 28R-7535029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot told a mechanic that he was planning to remain in the airport traffic pattern to make sure the airplane was ready for a long cross-country flight the next morning. An earwitness reported hearing the airplane begin its takeoff roll and continued to hear engine noises for a total of about 45 seconds until the airplane impacted the ground. The one eyewitness described the airplane as being in a steep left turn with the wings perpendicular to the ground just before it impacted the terrain. The accident occurred on the first flight after having a new interior and propeller installed, and after the completion of an annual inspection. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The ground impact scars at the accident site, compact distribution of wreckage, and the eyewitness statement were consistent with the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall and left rotating spin in the left crosswind segment of the traffic pattern. At impact, the landing gear were selected to the down position and the flaps were set to the full position, which was not consistent with the with the configurations in the airframe manufacturer’s operating manual for either normal or short-field takeoff procedures. It is possible that this configuration, particularly the fully extended flaps, degraded the airplane’s climb performance and contributed to the aerodynamic stall.
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 control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,483.3 hours in all; 87.5 in this make and model; 37.9 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 452 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 2023; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 9,157 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,850 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from MTN, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMTN 252255Z 07004KT 10SM SCT110 26/21 A3006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
14 documents, released by the NTSB on October 30, 2024. 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.
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.