Cessna R182RG accident near Stevensville, Maryland, July 24, 1988
On July 24, 1988 at about 8:23 am local time, a Cessna R182RG, registered N9997C, was destroyed in an accident near Stevensville, Maryland (Bay Bridge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 24, 1988 · about 8:23 am local time
- Place
- Stevensville, Maryland · Bay Bridge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182RG · all R182RGs on the register
- Registration
- N9997C · no longer on the register · serial 182-00497
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEPARTED BAY BRIDGE ARPT AT APRX 0415 EDT. THE PASSENGER, ALSO A PLT, WAS READING BACK AN IFR CLEARANCE TO ATC WHEN COMMUNICATION ENDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF DISTRESS. COMPARISON OF ATC AND RADAR TAPES INDICATES THAT N9997C HAD ENTERED A DESCENDING RIGHT TURN IN CLOUDS AND HAD LOST BETWEEN 700 AND 1000 FEET OF ALT DURING THE RADIO TRANSMISSION. THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY APRX 8 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF. N9997C WAS LOCATED AND RECOVERY BEGAN APRX 35 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT.
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: 252 hours in all; 195 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 177 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W29 Stevensville MD at 8:15 am
- Destination: YHU Montreal
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 am from BWI, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.