Piper PA-28-160 accident near Michellville, Maryland, June 17, 1986
On June 17, 1986, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5444W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Michellville, Maryland (Freeway airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- June 17, 1986
- Place
- Michellville, Maryland · Freeway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5444W · no longer on the register · serial 28-521
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER CIRCLING AROUND THE AIRPORT, TRYING TO RAISE SOMEBODY ON UNICOM TO FIND OUT WIND CONDITIONS AT THE FIELD, THE PILOT NOTED THE LIGHTED WINDSOCK INDICATOR AND ELECTED TO LAND TO THE NORTH. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO LAND LONG ON THE 2420 FOOT RUNWAY, TOUCHING DOWN PAST THE MIDWAY POINT, AND THEN THE ENGINE SOUNDS INCREASED. IT WAS NEXT OBSERVED TO CROSS OVER A HIGHWAY OFF THE NORTH END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDE WITH THE TOP BRANCHES OF A TREE BEFORE NOSING DOWN INTO A FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MISSED ALL SIGNS OF A DOWNWIND LANDING UNTIL TOO LATE.
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: 179 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 128 as pilot in command; 51 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGS College Park MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,420 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from BWI, 15 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.