Champion 402 accident near Friendly, Maryland, May 30, 1983
On May 30, 1983 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Champion 402, registered N9966Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Friendly, Maryland (Pg Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1983 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Friendly, Maryland · Pg Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 402 · all 402s on the register
- Registration
- N9966Y · no longer on the register · serial 20
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT AT 400 FEET AFTER TAKEOFF. AFTER THE ACCIDENT FUEL WAS FOUND DRAINING FROM THE RIGHT TANK FILLER OPENING. THE ACFT WAS LEVELED AND THE ENGINE STARTED WITH BOOST PUMP AND PUMPING THROTTLE. THE ENGINE WAS STARTED TWICE BUT WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO RUN EVEN AFTER FUEL WAS ADDED. FUEL VENTS AND LINES WERE OPEN. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS FOUND NOT TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR PLACARDS, VALVE POSITIONS AND PLUMBING AS INSTALLED. ACFT RECORDS DID NOT INDICATE ANY CHANGES OR REROUTING OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. WITH ENGINES RUNNING AND BOTH ELECTRIC BOOST PUMPS OPERATING, UNCOVERING OF EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT WING TANK OUTLETS COULD INDUCE AIR INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM WHICH WOULD REQUIRE PURGING PRIOR TO NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 832 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 144 in the last 90 days; 642 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,768 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1983; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.