Piper PA-28R-201 accident near Baltimore, Maryland, August 8, 1992
On August 8, 1992 at about 3:24 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N6384C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baltimore, Maryland (Martin State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION FROM A FAULTY RUBBER SEAL IN THE MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP WHILE OPERATING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. AN ADDITIONAL CAUSE WAS THE USE OF INADEQUATE STANDARDS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE RUBBER SEAL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1992 · about 3:24 pm local time
- Place
- Baltimore, Maryland · Martin State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N6384C · no longer on the register · serial 7837164
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF 300 FEET AND DITCHED IN THE WATER. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED A LOOSE RUBBER SEAL IN THE MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP WHICH BLOCKED FUEL FLOW OUT OF THE PUMP. THE ENGINEERING DRAWING FOR THE SEAL LACKED AN ASTM SPECIFICATION WHICH COVERS THE PRODUCTION OF THE RUBBER INCLUDING THE CURING. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT WHEN SEALS PRODUCED FROM RUBBER WITHOUT THIS ASTM SPECIFICATION WERE EXPOSED TO AVIATION GASOLINE, THEY WOULD SWELL. WITH SUFFICIENT EXPOSURE TO GASOLINE, THE SEAL WILL COME UNSEATED AND FLOAT INTO THE EXHAUST SIDE OF THE PUMP, RESTRICTING FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE.
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
- Flight time: 1,369 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,870 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1991; 124 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: RKD Rockland ME
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 6,996 ft by 180 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; scat at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:24 pm from MTN, 1 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.