Suburban Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Laurel, Maryland 20724
Monday, September 30, 1991 17:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS ON ITS FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY. THE PREFLIGHT WAS COMPLETED WHICH INCLUDED DRAINING THE FUEL SUMPS FOR CONTAMINATIONS. THE PRETAKEOFF ENGINE RUNUP WAS SATISFACTORY. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THEY DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 3 AND AS THEY WERE CLIMBING THROUGH 200 FEET MSL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD, ABOUT A HALF MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE AND A UTILITY POLE DURING THE APPROACH TO THE FIELD, DAMAGING THE WINGS. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/30/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LAUREL
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20724
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SUBURBAN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W18
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 145
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID BWI
Elevation of weather observation facility 146
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1626
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45311
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:43AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2513N
NTSB Number BFO91FA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-790883
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 13 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 29
Airframe Hours 6425
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GLENN I. ALTMAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 520 BROCK BRIDGE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City LAUREL
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20724
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SUBURBAN AIR SERVICE INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 520 BROCK BRIDGE ROAD
Operator City LAUREL
Operator State MD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 20724
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code W18
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 2170
Runway Width 29
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --