Amateur-built SURREL GUPPY accident near Churchville, Maryland, July 16, 2000
On July 16, 2000 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SURREL GUPPY, registered N4425W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Churchville, Maryland (Harford County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Factors in this accident were an open canopy and a decrease in engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2000 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Churchville, Maryland · Harford County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SURREL GUPPY SURREL GUP
- Registration
- N4425W · no longer on the register · serial 53
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a normal takeoff and lift-off, the pilot noticed the engine tachometer indicated 2,900 rpm, instead of the normal 3,450 rpm. Additionally, the corner of the airplane's canopy became dislodged. The pilot was unable to secure the canopy, and felt he would have 'no problem making a gentle left turn to land on a parallel runway;' however, during the turn, about 50 feet above the ground, he became 'distracted and stalled' the airplane about 300 feet short of the runway. The airplane was equipped with a 4-cycle Kohler, model CH25S lawn mower engine. A hole was found in the right cylinder rocker box cover, and 'some debris and filings' were observed on the right cylinder exhaust valve.
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: 92 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kohler CH-25 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0W3 at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 1,600 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from MTN, 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N4425W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.