Piper PA-23 accident near Friendly, Maryland, July 2, 1988
On July 2, 1988 at about 8:54 pm local time, a Piper PA-23, registered N1021P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Friendly, Maryland (P.G. Airpark airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- July 2, 1988 · about 8:54 pm local time
- Place
- Friendly, Maryland · P.G. Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23 · all PA-23s on the register
- Registration
- N1021P · registry record · serial 23-23
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FT AGL, A POWER LOSS WAS EXPERIENCED ON THE LEFT ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS RETARDED TO VERIFY THE ENGINE FAILURE, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO 'COME BACK TO LIFE'. THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED AND ONCE AGAIN A LOSS OF POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. UNABLE TO GAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN AND RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A GEAR-UP FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. THE AIRPLANE SLID FOR 333 FT BEFORE COMING TO REST. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COMPONENTS FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. THE ONLY DISCREPANCY FOUND WERE SEVERAL PIECES OF A SILICON RUBBER TYPE MATERIAL INSIDE THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK NEAR THE FUEL PICK-UP LINE SCREEN.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,114 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 283 in the last 90 days; 118 in the last 30 days; 1,866 as pilot in command; 820 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,247 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1988; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W28 Ft. Washington MD at 8:52 pm
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.