Aero Vodochody L-39ZO accident near Forest Hill, Maryland, August 24, 2003
On August 24, 2003 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Aero Vodochody L-39ZO, registered N298RD, was destroyed in an accident near Forest Hill, Maryland (Forest Hill Industrial Airpark 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 in-flight decision to delay application of engine power to account for the engine's slow response to throttle input, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with a residential area. A factor related to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in jet-powered airplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2003 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Forest Hill, Maryland · Forest Hill Industrial Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Vodochody L-39ZO · all L-39ZOs on the register
- Registration
- N298RD · registry record · serial 731013
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Several witnesses observed the airplane approach the airpark, proceed over the runway low level, and initiate a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane pitched upwards and began to lose velocity. At the peak of the airplane's accent, the airplane stalled, nosed over, and descended towards the ground. The airplane impacted the southwest corner of a 3-story residential home, located about 1/2-mile west of the airpark, and subsequently impacted the ground, where a post crash fire ensued. Examination of the engine's fuel control revealed that the throttle arm was in the full power position. Examination of the cockpit area revealed that the engine tachometer needles were observed at "28 percent" for N1, and "56 percent" for N2. The fuel pressure needle was observed at its normal pressure reading for a high power setting, and the oil pressure needle and oil temperature gages were observed at a position consistent with the engine developing power. According to the airplanes Flight Training manual, the time required for the engine to accelerate from a low engine speed to high engine speed (idle to max power), was approximately 9 to 12 seconds. The pilot had accumulated about 25 hours of total flight experience in the L-39. The pilot had been informed in the past by the manager of the airplane to maintain 75 percent rpm or better while landing, in the event that a go-around had to be executed. The manager accentuated to the pilot that he needed to be aware that the engine took close to 12 seconds to spool up, and having the extra power lessened the engines response time in the event of a go-around. No pre-impact abnormalities with the airframe or powerplant were observed.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,950 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,292 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Aerotechnik AI-25TL (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MTN Baltimore MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,650 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from MTN, 12 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.