Beech A23-19 accident near Cambridge, Maryland, July 6, 1987
On July 6, 1987 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Beech A23-19, registered N5775V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cambridge, Maryland (Cambridge-Dorchester airport). It was a personal 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
- July 6, 1987 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cambridge, Maryland · Cambridge-Dorchester · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23-19 · all A23-19s on the register
- Registration
- N5775V · no longer on the register · serial MB49
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO START THE PILOT SET THE THROTTLE, INSURED THE AIRCRAFT WAS TIED DOWN AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE AIRCRAFT BY HAND PROPPING. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED IMMEDIATELY, BROKE BOTH TIE-DOWN ROPES, TRAVELED ACROSS THE FIELD INTO A DITCH AND SUBSTANED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE TIE-DOWN ROPES WERE MADE OF POLYPROPYLENE AND HAD WEAKENED WITH YEARSOF EXPOSURE TO THE SUN. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH NYLON 3/8 INCH TIE-DOWN ROPES.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Gettysburg PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from BWI, 49 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.