Piper PA-22-135 accident near Clinton, Maryland, May 27, 2001
On May 27, 2001 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N3341A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clinton, Maryland (Washington Exec/Hyde Field Apt). 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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout. Factors related to the accident were the pilot's lack of experience in tail-wheeled airplanes, and the wind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2001 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clinton, Maryland · Washington Exec/Hyde Field Apt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N3341A · registry record · serial 22-1507
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing rollout, a gust of wind lifted the right wing upward, swerving the airplane to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the situation, but not before the airplane "ground looped." During the ground loop, the landing gear collapsed, causing the right wing to impact the runway and sustain damage. The pilot reported 5 hours of flight experience in tail-wheel airplanes. The winds reported at a nearby airport were from 210 degrees at 13 knots.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 270 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 214 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 15, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,267 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 2000; 999 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,115 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2W5 Indian Head MD at 1:30 pm
- Destination: W32 Clinton MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from ADW, 5 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.