Cessna 172 accident near Elkton, Maryland, April 28, 1988
On April 28, 1988 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N4255F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elkton, Maryland. It was a personal 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
- April 28, 1988 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Elkton, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N4255F · no longer on the register · serial 46155
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLT AT AN ALT OF 1500 FT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE ACFT WAS LANDED ON RAILROAD TRACKS IN ORDER TO AVOID TREES. THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING. PLT STATED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK GAUGE INDICATED 1/4 TANK AND THE LEFT GAUGE INDICATED A FULL TANK OF FUEL WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. POST ACCIDENT TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. THE PLT FAILED TO FILE AN ACC REPORT AND THERE IS NO RECORD INFO ON THE PLT.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 2N0
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:00 am
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.