Piper PA-28-140 accident near Fort Washington, Maryland, May 17, 1998
On May 17, 1998 at about 6:16 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N4537R, was destroyed in an accident near Fort Washington, Maryland (Potomac Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1998 · about 6:16 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Washington, Maryland · Potomac Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N4537R · no longer on the register · serial 28-21241
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot rated passenger (PRP) seated in the left front seat, stated that the purpose of the flight was to familiarize him with instrument flight rules operations. The PRP stated that they back taxied as runway 6 was short and there were trees at the departure end of the runway. The PRP said they did not use any flaps for takeoff. The climb airspeed was 70 miles per hour and the instructor took over the controls and performed, '...what I thought was a maximum climb takeoff... .' He also said that he felt the airplane sink after they were over the trees. The passenger said that the right wing clipped a tree and propelled the plane into a downward spiral. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe did not disclose any structural or mechanical anomalies. Toxicological tests of the instructor revealed 0.004 ug/ml Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (Marihuana) detected in the Lung Fluid, and 0.046 ug/ml Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (Marihuana) detected in the Urine.
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: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,706 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1998; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming L-47325-27A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: VKX at 6:15 pm
- Destination: ANP Annapolis MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 2,665 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from ADW, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.