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Accidents · NTSB NYC94LA022 · Final report

Piper PA-28-180 accident near Centreville, Maryland, October 25, 1993

On October 25, 1993 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N16493, was destroyed in an accident near Centreville, Maryland. 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

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 25, 1993 · about 11:55 pm local time · cases in 1993
Place
Centreville, Maryland · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
Registration
N16493 · registry record · serial 28-7305269
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

AFTER ONE AND ONE HALF HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT THE PILOT SWITCHED FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK TO LEFT TANK. THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH THEN LOSE POWER. THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AND HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED UNTIL IT IMPACTED IN 20 TO 30 FEET OF WATER AND SANK. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED FROM THE WATER, AND THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS NOT DETERMINED.

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; rotorcraft: glider
  • Flight time: 750 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 675 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 4,412 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 1993; 60 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: FDK Fredrick MD at 8:00 pm
  • Destination: ESN Easton MD
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: dusk
  • Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
  • Visibility: 20 statute miles
  • Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
  • Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 2:00 am from BWI, 20 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/NYC94LA022.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.