Piper PA-28 accident near Mitchellville, Maryland, July 31, 1987
On July 31, 1987 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N55757, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mitchellville, Maryland (Freeway airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- July 31, 1987 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mitchellville, Maryland · Freeway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N55757 · no longer on the register · serial 287325478
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE ACFT HIT THE TOPS OF TREES NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER CLIPPING THE TREETOPS, HE KNEW THE ACFT WAS 'GOING IN,' SO HE PULLED THE YOKE BACK TO SLOW IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. ALSO, THE PLT STATED THAT DURING LIFT-OFF, THE POINTER ON THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE GREEN ARC. HOWEVER, AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT FAILED TO CLIMB PROPERLY, ALTHOUGH THE ENG WAS RUNNING SMOOTH & THE THROTTLE WAS AT THE FULL POWER POSITION. HE NOTED THE STALL WARNING LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED, BUT HE DID NOT TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION SINCE THE ACFT DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT WAS STALLING.
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: 394 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 280 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Ithica NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 2,400 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.