Carroll County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Westminster, Maryland 21157
Sunday, March 28, 1982 14:13 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A 2930 FT RUNWAY WITH FOUR OCCUPANTS ON BOARD. THE AIRCRAFT WEIGHT WAS NOT KNOWN, BUT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 2334 LBS DURING TAKEOFF. THERE WAS A LIGHT WIND FROM THE WEST AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 42 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. WITNESSES WHO OBSERVED THE TAKEOFF ROLL STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL, BUT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT BECOME AIRBORNE UNTIL 2200 TO 2700 FT DOWN THE RUNWAY. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED NO HIGHER THAN 100 TO 150 FT AGL, THEN DISAPPEARED FROM THEIR VIEW ABOUT A MILE FROM THE RUNWAY. A PILOT THAT WAS LANDING IN ANOTHER PLANE OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TURN LEFT ABOUT 80 DEGREES DURING A LOW AND SLOW DEPARTURE. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES ABOUT 1.5 MILES FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND LEFT OF ITS CENTERLINE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. RELATIVES AND ACQUAINTANCES OF THE PILOT COULD NOT RECALL THE PILOT PREVIOUSLY OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT WITH FOUR ADULTS ON BOARD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/28/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1413
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WESTMINSTER
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21157
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport CARROLL COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W-54
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 42
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 656
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2490T
NTSB Number ATL82FA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7225077
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 22
Airframe Hours 1961
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRANCIS L FENWICK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 325 GLYDON AVE
Aircraft Owner City GLYNDON
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21071
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FRANCIS L FENWICK
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 325 GLYDON AVE
Operator City GLYNDON
Operator State MD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 21071
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City WESTMINSTER
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City GAITHERSBURG
Destination State MD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 2930
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --