Piper PA-28-161 accident near Elkton, Maryland, March 2, 1986
On March 2, 1986 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8167R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elkton, Maryland. 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
- March 2, 1986 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Elkton, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8167R · no longer on the register · serial 28-8016280
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF PWR DURING CRUISE. THE STUDENT PLT REPORTED THAT CARB HEAT WAS APPLIED AFTER THE INITIAL PWR LOSS WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN RPM. HE SUBSEQUENTLY APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, BUT THE ACFT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND A FORCED LDG WAS MADE IN A SOYBEAN FIELD. THE ENGINE WAS LATER TEST-RUN, AND IT REPORTEDLY DEVELOPED CLOSE TO FULL PWR. .
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: 56 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 31 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 510 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 15, 1985; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bridgeport Aero, INC
The flight
- Departed from: FDK Frederick MD at 7:40 pm
- Destination: N83 Bridgeport NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from ILG, 14 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.
Other NTSB records under N8167R 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.