Amateur-built Q2 accident near Clinton, Maryland, December 2, 1984
On December 2, 1984 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Q2, registered N5571W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clinton, Maryland (Hyde Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 2, 1984 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Clinton, Maryland · Hyde Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q2
- Registration
- N5571W · no longer on the register · serial 2291
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS MAKING ITS FIRST TAKEOFF FOLLOWING SEVERAL PREVIOUS HOURS OF TAXI TESTS. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT EARLY IN THE TAKEOFF ROLL UNTIL THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL DROPPED OFF THE RWY. THE ACFT YAWED TO THE LEFT AND CONTINUED ACROSS THE GRASS AND A PARALLEL TAXIWAY ONTO A PARKING RAMP. GROUND TRACKS ON THE RAMP VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND GENERALLY PARALLELED THE RWY HDG BEFORE ENDING ABOUT 100 FT FROM TWO PARKED VEHICLES. THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE SLIGHTLY BEFORE STRIKING THE TWO VEHICLES, PUSHING ONE INTO A PARKED ACFT. EXAMINATION REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF PROMINENT RUBBER TRANSFER MARKS ON THE TOP INSIDE TIRE SURFACE. THE MAIN WHEELS MOUNT ON THE TIPS OF THE 16.5 FT SPANCONARD. WIDTH OF THE TAKEOFF RUNWAY IS 30 FT.
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: 245 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 181 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 29, 1984; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 2100-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,820 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12000 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from DCA, 8 miles away
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.