Amateur-built PROBER PIXIE accident near Cumberland, Maryland, August 30, 1992
On August 30, 1992 at about 5:00 pm local time, a amateur-built PROBER PIXIE, registered N103WK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cumberland, Maryland (Mexico Farms airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN, FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO DETECT THE RUST PARTICLES AND WATER IN THE FUEL SYSTEM PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 1992 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cumberland, Maryland · Mexico Farms
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PROBER PIXIE PROBER PIX
- Registration
- N103WK · no longer on the register · serial 10003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE PREFLIGHTED THE AIRPLANE AND MADE SEVERAL GROUND RUNS AND POWER CHECKS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. DURING TAKEOFF AS THE AIRPLANE CROSSED THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT TURNED TO AVOID A TREE LINE AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED. THE AIRPLANE THEN ENTERED A SPIN AND STRUCK THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION BY THE FAA FOUND RUST PARTICLES AND WATER IN THE FUEL TANK, FUEL FILTER BOWL, AND INLET FINGER SCREEN GOING INTO THE CARBURETOR.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 25,097 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1990; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 833 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hapi 60E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,100 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.