Cessna 172N accident near Mitchellville, Maryland, June 5, 1983
On June 5, 1983 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N1657E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mitchellville, Maryland (Freeway airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1983 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mitchellville, Maryland · Freeway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1657E · registry record · serial 17271085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS ON FINAL APCH TO LAND, HIS SPEED WAS A LITTLE FAST. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN, THE ACFT BOUNCED & BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT. ONCE THE RIGHT WHEEL WENT OFF THE RWY, THE RIGHT TURN INCREASED & THE ACFT STRUCK A RWY EDGE LIGHT. FULL POWER WAS APPLIED TO AVOID SEVERAL PARKED ACFT, BUT THE FLAPS WERE NOT RAISED. AT ABOUT 50 TO 60 FT AGL, THE PLT MADE A SHARP LEFT TURN TO AVOID SOME TREES. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ACFT STALLED & CRASHED INTO A SMALL TREE & A PILE OF LOGS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 264 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 189 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,869 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 11, 1983; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Freeway Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FDR Frederick MD at 10:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,150 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from MTN, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL83LA216.