Cessna 175 accident near Princefrederick, Maryland, May 5, 1985
On May 5, 1985 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Cessna 175, registered N7027E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Princefrederick, Maryland (Cedar Beach Farm airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- May 5, 1985 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Princefrederick, Maryland · Cedar Beach Farm · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7027E · registry record · serial 56527
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT FLEW 2:15 FROM CAMBRIDGE, MD, TO SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE, VA, EARLIER ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND WAS 2 HRS INTO THE RETURN FLT WHEN AT 5500 FT OVER PRINCE FREDERICK, MD, THE ENG LOST PWR DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER. THE APCH TO THE PRIVATE STRIP SELECTED FOR THE FORCED LANDING WAS TOO HIGH, THE PLT STATED, AND TOUCHDOWN WAS BETWEEN HALF AND TWO-THIRDS DOWN THE 1850 FT RWY. THE ACFT COULD NOT BE STOPPED ON THE REMAINING RWY AND AN ATTEMPT TO TURN RIGHT AND AVOID TREES WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ACFT HAD RECEIVED MAINTENANCE ON THE FUEL GAGES ON 4/29/85. THE LEFT FUEL GAGE SENDER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT THAT TIME. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER, A STUDENT PLT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAGES WERE FUNCTIONING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 307 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 261 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,440 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 1984; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W91 Moneta VA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: CGE Cambridge MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 1,850 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from ADW, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.