Piper PA-28-140 accident near Edgewater, Maryland, December 15, 1985
On December 15, 1985 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N427FL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edgewater, Maryland (Lee Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- December 15, 1985 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Edgewater, Maryland · Lee Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N427FL · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON RETURNING TO LEE ARPT, EDGEWATER, MD, FROM A X-COUNTRY FLT TO LANCASTER, PA, THE STUDENT PLT APPLIED FULL FLAPS DURING THE FINAL APCH FOR RWY 12. DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE ACFT BALLOONED AND THE PLT APPLIED FULL PWR IN ORDER TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. ACCORDING TO THE PLT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE FAILED TO REDUCE PITCH IN TIME TO PREVENT A STALL, AND THE ACFT DROPPED TO THE RWY, CONTACTING THE MAIN GEAR FIRST. THE ACFT THEN SWERVED TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY INTO A FRESHLY PLOWED FLD AND FLIPPED OVER, COMING TO REST INVERTED.
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: student
- Flight time: 61 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNS Lancaster PA at 5:33 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 2,400 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 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.