Piper PA-32-260 accident near Indian Head, Maryland, December 21, 1983
On December 21, 1983 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N5685V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indian Head, Maryland (Maryland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- December 21, 1983 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Indian Head, Maryland · Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N5685V · no longer on the register · serial 32-7700017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING DCA, HE ENCOUNTERED A SMALL AMOUNT OF RAIN THAT FROZE ON THE AIRCRAFT'S WINDSHIELD. HE CONTINUED ON TO HIS DESTINATION AND AGAIN ENCOUNTER FREEZING RAIN WHEN TURNING FROM BASE TO FINAL. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND BUT STRUCK TREES. THE ACFT CAME TO REST 400 FT FROM THE APPROACH END OF RWY 35, 205 FT LEFT OF CENTERLINE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,003 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 1,003 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 321 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DCA Washington DC at 11:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,002 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from DCA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.