Piper PA-28-180 accident near White Marsh, Maryland, August 18, 1984
On August 18, 1984 at about 4:30 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N44325, was destroyed in an accident near White Marsh, Maryland (Baltimore Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- August 18, 1984 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- White Marsh, Maryland · Baltimore Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N44325 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7405234
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS DESCENDED FOR APRX 7 MILES AT LOW POWER & SLOW RATE FOR THE LANDING AT WHITE MARSH ARPT. THE DESCENT STARTED AT 2800 FT & CONTINUED STRAIGHT IN TO RWY 27. AT ABOUT 200 YDS FROM THE RWY & AT 200 FT AGL THE PLT DECIDED HE NEEDED POWER TO LAND PROPERLY. AS THE THROTTLE WAS APPLIED THE ENG SPUTTERED & COUGHED, ACCORDING TO THE PLT, BEFORE QUITTING. THE PLT THEN TURNED THE ACFT TO THE LEFT TO LINE UP WITH I-95 SOUTH BOUND. A TRUCK INTERFERED WITH THE HIGHWAY LANDING & THE PLT BANKED THE ACFT TO THE RT TO LAND ON THE GRADED 40 FT WIDE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE. THE ACFT HIT TREES & GROUND LOOPED TO A STOP. THE PLT STATED IN HIS REPORT THAT OVER PHILLIPS AFB HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAGES WERE READING 5 GALS EACH & BOUNCING AROUND. HE SAID HE FELT THAT CARB ICE OR MAG FAILURE WERE CAUSAL, AND HE RAN OUT OF TIME TO GO THRU ANY EMERGENCY PROCEDURES (AS HE DID NOT BECOME AWARE OF A NEED FOR ACTION UNTIL THE APPLICATION OF THROTTLE AT 200 FT AGL ON FINAL APPROACH).
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: 102 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,765 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 12, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JFK New York NY at 3:00 am
- Destination: 1W2 White Marsh MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 28.00 inHg
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.