Piper PA-28-140 accident near Odenton, Maryland, August 7, 2001
On August 7, 2001 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1825T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Odenton, Maryland (Tipton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper maintenance inspections, which resulted in a blocked carburetor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2001 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Odenton, Maryland · Tipton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1825T · no longer on the register · serial 71-25216
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing a high-speed taxi run when the airplane began to lift off the ground, and he decided to take-off. About 300-400 feet above the ground, the engine lost partial power, and the pilot made a forced landing on airport property. The engine was test-run on the airframe utilizing the airplane's own fuel system, but it would not start. Examination of the fuel system revealed that the carburetor fuel port and screen were blocked with debris. The debris was removed and the screen was placed back on the carburetor. The engine started immediately, and ran continuously at various power settings without interruption. The debris was identified as small pieces of leaves, various pieces of colored material, and an insect cocoon. A 100-hour inspection was performed on the airplane about 37 days before the accident and an overhauled engine was installed. The logbooks also indicated that a new tachometer was installed at a time of 000.1, all fluid carrying hoses and scat hoses were replaced, and the fuel system was flushed. Eighteen days before the accident an annual inspection was performed on the engine and airplane at a tachometer time of 000.1. At the time of the accident, the tachometer read 0001.9. According to Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 43 Appendix D, section (d)(3): "Each person performing an annual or 100-hour inspection shall inspect (where applicable), components of the engine and nacelle group as follows.....(3) Internal engine-for cylinder compression and for metal particles or foreign matter on screens and sump drain plugs."
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: 322 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 27, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2001; 1.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FME Odenton MD at 2:00 pm
- Destination: FME MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from BWI, 7 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.