Columbus – Georgetown

On September 5, 1992 at 12:37 PM, Columbus – Georgetown experienced a crash involving Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600), operated by Potomac Imaging Associates, with the event recorded near Georgetown-Sussex County Delaware.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. During a VOR runway 22 approach, the instrument rated pilot sighted the runway and cancelled his IFR flight plan. As he was circling to land, the airplane stalled and collided with terrain. Witnesses stated that the airplane made a steep left banking turn about 250 feet above the ground. According to witnesses, upon roll out of the turn, the airplane's wings rocked back and forth, the nose and right wing dropped below the horizon, and the airplane fell to the ground. Instrument meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and witnesses stated that the ceiling was about 400 to 500 feet above the ground. Weather facilities in the area were forecasting about 1,000 foot ceilings throughout the area. All three occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N3647T, MSN 62-0865-8165005, year of manufacture 1981.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 38.6901°, -75.3859°.