Cessna 210E accident near Glen Burnie, Maryland, May 21, 1984
On May 21, 1984, a Cessna 210E, registered N432MD, was destroyed in an accident near Glen Burnie, Maryland (Baltimore-Washington Intl 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1984
- Place
- Glen Burnie, Maryland · Baltimore-Washington Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210E · all 210Es on the register
- Registration
- N432MD · no longer on the register · serial 21058706
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE THE FLT, THE PLT WAS OBSERVED PERFORMING MAINTENANCE IN THE ENG COMPARTMENT. HE WAS KNOWN TO DO SOME OF HIS OWN MAINTENANCE WHICH INCLUDED STOPPING AN OIL GASKET LEAK BY USING A SEALER. WHILE CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF, HE TURNED BACK TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT, THEN DIVERT TOWARD THE BWI ARPT WITH AN ENG PROBLEM. THE ENG LOST POWER & HE TRIED TO LAND ON A SCHOOL YARD, BUT THE ACFT CRASHED & BURNED BEFORE REACHING IT. AN EXAM REVEALED FATIGUE CRACKS & A HOLE IN THE #4 CYLINDER. POLISHING OF A DISPLACED PIECE OF THE CYLINDER & DEPOSITS IN THE CRACKS SHOWED THAT THEY HAD BEEN THERE FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME. FOAM PADS (TO KEEP BIRDS OUT OF THE ENG COMPARTMENT WHILE PARKED) WERE FOUND IN THE AIR/VENT HOLES OF THE COWLING. AN ENG TEARDOWN REVEALED: #2 FUEL NOZZLE PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED; LEFT MAGNETO IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED; RUBBER MATERIAL RESEMBLING SILICONE SEALER WAS FOUND IN THE OIL SYSTEM, BUT NO OIL SYS BLOCKAGE WAS NOTED. EVIDENCE OF HEAT IN ENG BEARINGS JOURNALS. R FUEL CAP NOT VENTED. PLT'S MED CERT EXPIRED. HIGH TIME ENG. PROP STRIKE, 4/9/83.
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; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 27, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MTN Baltimore MD at 11:54 pm
- Destination: Richmond VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 9,452 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.