Piper PA-38-112 accident near Elkton, Maryland, June 14, 1992
On June 14, 1992 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2326K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elkton, Maryland (Cecil County Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER CLIMB ATTITUDE WHICH RESULTED IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE AIRPLANE WEIGHT AND BALANCE WAS EXCEEDED, THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRPLANE, AND HIS LACK OF RECENT TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1992 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Elkton, Maryland · Cecil County Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2326K · no longer on the register · serial 3879A0575
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD NOT FLOWN FOR OVER 30 MONTHS. HE RECEIVED 1.9 HOURS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION THE MONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE DUAL INSTRUCTION WAS NOT CONSIDERED A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. THE TRAINING WAS A CHECK OUT IN AN AIRPLANE NEW TO THE PILOT, CONDUCTED AT A MAJOR AIRPORT WITH LONG RUNWAYS. THIS DEPARTURE WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST TAKEOFF ON A SHORT RUNWAY WITH OBSTACLES. TAKEOFF POWER WAS APPLIED WHILE THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED. AFTER LIFTOFF, THE PILOT ESTABLISHED THE AIRPLANE, WHICH WAS 40 POUNDS OVER THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT, IN A CLIMB ATTITUDE WHICH ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO BLEED OFF FROM THE DESIRED 55 KNOTS, TO 40 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE STALLED, STRUCK TREES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.
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: 220 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 180 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,144 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dawn Aviation
The flight
- Destination: ILG Wilmington DE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Observation at 9:00 pm from ILG, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.