Cessna 172N accident near Annapolis, Maryland, October 4, 1985
On October 4, 1985 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4691G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Annapolis, Maryland (Lee Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- October 4, 1985 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Annapolis, Maryland · Lee Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4691G · registry record · serial 17273317
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT CROSSED MID-FIELD, AND ENTERED A LEFT DOWN WIND FOR RWY 30. HE THEN CHECKED WIND DIRECTION, COMPLETED A BASE LEG, AND ENTERED FINAL APCH. AFTER REDUCING HIS AIRSPEED, THE ACFT 'FLOATED' PRIOR TO TOUCHING DOWN APRX 600 FT SHORT OF MID-FLD. THE PLT DECIDED NOT TO ATTEMPT A GO-AROUND AND IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BRAKES. HE THEN REALIZED THAT THE ACFT WOULD COLLIDE WITH AN ARPT BARRICADE (MADE OF TELEPHONE POLES) IF A LEFT TURN WAS NOT EXECUTED. THE PLT MADE A HARD LEFT TURN, AND THE ACFT'S RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE FIRST BARRICADE POLE. THE ACFT THEN PIVOTED TO THE RIGHT, AND COLLIDED WITH THE REST OF THE POLES. THE ACFT CAME TO REST BETWEEN TWO POLES, AND THE PLT AND TWO PASSENGERS EXITED THE ACFT THROUGH THE WINDOWS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 261 hours in all; 139 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 155 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,536 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 22, 1985; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W98 Chesterfield VA at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30, 2,400 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from BWI, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N4691G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.