Piper PA-28-140 accident near Edgewater, Maryland, June 17, 1986
On June 17, 1986 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N6959W, was destroyed in an accident near Edgewater, Maryland (Lee Airport). 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
- June 17, 1986 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Edgewater, Maryland · Lee Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6959W · no longer on the register · serial 28-21152
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL DURING TAKEOFF RUN BUT STARTED TO LOSE POWER SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 30 AT LEE AIRPORT, ANNAPOLIS, MD. THE RUNWAY IS 2400 FEET LONG AND BEARDS CREEK IS LOCATED ABOUT 200 FEET OFF ITS DEPARTURE END. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE A STEEP 180 DEGREE RIGHT TURN OVER THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WITH THE RIGHT WING CONTACTING THE GROUND FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE. ALTHOUGH EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MALFUNCTIONS, WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT WAS KNOWN TO FREQUENTLY USE AUTO FUEL IN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN APPROVED TO USE UNLEADED AUTOMOTIVE FUEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH STC SA802GL. THE PLTS PLT LOG BOOKS WERE NOT RECOVERED FOR FLT TIME.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: WOO Mitchellville MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from BWI, 15 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.