On May 15, 2003, a Piper PA-28R-200 (registration N1514X) was involved in an aviation accident near Gaithersburg, MD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed, resulting in an inadvertent stall. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a simulated forced landing, the airplane stalled and descended into a grass field short of the runway, coming to rest upright. The pilot had added power as airspeed dropped, but a loss of headwind was suspected.
Incident Overview
On the final approach leg of a simulated forced landing, the airspeed began to decrease to 70 mph. In response, the pilot added power. However, approximately one-quarter mile short of the runway, the airspeed further decreased to 60 mph. The pilot later indicated that this reduction was presumably due to the loss of a 10-knot headwind. At that point, the airplane stalled.
Sequence of Events
The airplane subsequently descended into a grass field, coming to rest upright. The recorded wind at a nearby airport around the time of the incident was from 040 degrees at 5 knots. No other details were provided in the source regarding the aircraft type, registration, or any injuries.