Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rohrersville, Maryland 21779
Saturday, August 11, 2001 19:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was observed flying in and out of the clouds when it impacted a mountain, at an elevation of 1,355 feet. The peak of the ridgeline was 1,800 feet msl, 3/4 mile east of the accident site. Weather at the time of the accident included mist and fog, and the peak of the mountain was obscured by low cloud ceilings. At the time of the accident, an AIRMET had been issued for IFR conditions and mountain obscuration. The pilot did not obtain a weather briefing or file a flight plan on the day of the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's continued VFR flight into obscured, mountanous terrain. Factors included the rising terrain and weather obscuration.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/11/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1920
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Rohrersville
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21779
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 392645N
Event Location Longitude 0773800W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1920 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID FDK
Elevation of weather observation facility 303
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 2600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
Density Altitude (feet) 1223
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13187
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 12 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 18 2003 4:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Baltimore FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2869F
NTSB Number IAD01FA096
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28RT-201
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7918184
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 18 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4008.2
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Fort Meade Flying Activity
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Fort Meade
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20755
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ZZV
Departure City Zanesville
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ANP
Destination City Annapolis
Destination State MD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 27 2002 10:17AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --