Piper PA-28-140 accident near Friendship, Maryland, March 9, 1985
On March 9, 1985 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1859J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Friendship, Maryland (Lee Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- March 9, 1985 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Friendship, Maryland · Lee Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1859J · no longer on the register · serial 28-24297
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED WOODBRIDGE, VA, EN ROUTE ATLANTIC CITY, NJ, FOR THE AFTERNOON. AS THE ACFT APPROACHED THE CHESAPEAKE BAY IN A CLIMB THE ENG LOST PWR. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG AND WAS FORCED TO LAND ON PVT PROPERTY. DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES BEFORE COMING TO REST ON TERRAIN THAT LED UP TO RESIDENCES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE SCREW AND LOCKPLATE WERE MISSING FROM THE CRANKSHAFT DRIVE GEAR AND THAT THE STEPPED DOWEL ON THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT WAS FOUND SHEARED. THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR FITS INTO AND DRIVES THE ENG OIL PUMP.
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: 818 hours in all; 818 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 1984; 131 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W22 Woodbridge VA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: AIY Atlantic City NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from BWI, 28 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.
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.